# Bathroom Fixture **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124 "2013-07-21T17:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/1 "2013-07-21T17:58:40Z")
Trying to repaint. Most fixtures have a slotted set screw. This one does not. It will not come off, so I suspect that a screw never existed. How do I get it off? > **[Photobucket | Make your memories fun!](https://s1361.photobucket.com/user/dauerbach100/media/fixture_zps304260d4.jpg.htm)** > > Make your memories fun! ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/2 "2013-07-21T18:01:21Z")
Linkey no workie, for me **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/3 "2013-07-21T18:14:20Z")
Hmmm, How about this? > **[Photobucket | Make your memories fun!](https://s1361.photobucket.com/user/dauerbach100/media/fixture_zps304260d4.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0)** > > Make your memories fun! ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/4 "2013-07-21T18:20:40Z")
Have you tried an allen wrench? ETA: they come both metric and Standard, and if you don’t already have some to try, I don’t know how you’d be able to figure which you had without just trying one. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/5 "2013-07-21T18:22:33Z")
plumbing fixture elements have tricky hold down mechanisms. the cap on the top of the handle or on the end of a handle will pop off revealing a fastener. that is a cap is pressed in place to conceal, how you get it off and if it can be gotten off without marring the fixture is a wholly other thing. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/6 "2013-07-21T18:23:08Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Have you tried an allen wrench? I agree, looks like it could be an allen screw. Also, what is that fixture? Half a towel rack? ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/7 "2013-07-21T18:30:32Z")
Two of them hold a glass shelf. I thought it would be hex as well, but after no size worked I looked up and there is around female looking part, but not hex. I am not certain that it does anything. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/8 "2013-07-21T18:40:15Z")
Does the decorative outer shell unscrew from a fixed inner mount? I could see it unscrewing at any of the beauty lines. Does the button on the end pop off (use a sturdy utility knife blade to pry)? ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/9 "2013-07-21T18:41:51Z")
I was getting frustrated so I pulled one off. Holding it in may had I discovered that it is a hex fitting, but almost not the right size. You really have to push the thing in, but it does go in and then comes off. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-fixture/664124/10 "2013-07-21T18:45:14Z")
Do you have both SAE and metric wrenches? These days, it’s a 50-50 crapshoot as to what size a hex screw uses, and not having both is going to lead to this kind of frustration. A good set of long-handle, ball-tip hex wrenches has proven to be an invaluable investment over the years.