I love problem solving, researching, and finding solutions. My recent plumbing solution caused such a stir in social media that I thought it deserved a blog post!

Artists make a mess, we use wet materials that need cleaning, but we are often occupying spaces without any plumbing. I know many of you are working in spare bedrooms, unused dining rooms, sheds, basements and attics. Whilst it’s possible to plumb in a sink the cost and disruption is prohibitive.

I have such a room and wanted a solution. I began by researching ‘portable sink’ which led me to sinks for bbq areas, campervans, and camping. I couldn’t find anything off the shelf, so set about researching how to put a bespoke sink together without it costing the earth.

Here is the video I posted, followed by the stages….

Having decided I would give it a go I measured the space I was going to put it in. I didn’t want it to be too big, I had around 50cm depth x 100cm wide to play with. Clearly a standard kitchen sink would be too big at 60cm deep so I started looking for sinks you would find in boats or campervans. I found a seller on eBay who reclaims fittings from caravans and picked up a sink and drainer for only £45. Of course that lovely retro enamel was a factor too! I decided they could go lengthways or side by side depending on what cupboard I could find.

The next stage was finding a cupboard. This was less easy. It had to be the right height, most are lower. Height is so important, too low and I get back ache. Also whilst the top measurements are easy to find out, what I needed was the internal measurements. I took a chance on this one I found on eBay. It’s an IKEA cupboard and was only £20.

Finding a tap was helped greatly by watching endless campervan enthusiasts refitting their vans! But I realised most of the taps they were using were linked to the battery in the campervan for the pumping system. Alternatives are a foot pump, a tap with a hand pump, and the one I went for a rechargeable pump. This tap is designed to be screwed to large water bottles.

The waste is determined by the diameter of the holes. I discovered that bath wastes are too big, basin too small. In my excitement to buy a retro sink it became clear that this particular Goldilocks had to keep searching!

Finally I found one that fitted … and bought two. The waste pipe had to screw onto it as well as divide for both wastes so that was another search. I did find a waste fitting that had a push-on end for a standard hose, but wanted one that would screw together as it’s less likely to fail. I bought two 10ltr tanks, one would be for waste and the other clean water. I labelled each accordingly.

Having assembled all my kit I set to work. The first task was deciding the placement of the sink/drainer and drawing around them, making sure it was going to fit within the internal cupboard space! Measuring the distance between the edge and the bowl gave me my cutting line.

I’m used to using power tools so cutting the holes was straightforward. But I realised I hadn’t made room for the tap! The cupboard wasn’t big enough to move the sink or drainer forwards or sideways, but I knew I would find a solution.

The sink and drainer dropped in nicely. They came with brackets to pull them tight against the cupboard top. 

Having got the sink and drainer in place with the brackets tightened underneath I could fit the waste fittings. These are easy: the silver strainer and washer go on top, the white screw piece underneath, and they are screwed together through the centre. Then it’s the drain pipe, screwed onto each waste, with the end firmly wedged into the tank.

I had charged the tap and couldn’t wait to see it working. As I didn’t have a hole space for it, so I just propped it up against the wall with the pipe running behind and into the water tank. Not ideal but it worked!

The next day I went back to try to find a better solution for the tap. I decided it fitted better in the space between the sink and drainer. It still overhung a little at the back, but as the cupboard was against a skirting board that was as far back as it would go anyway. The taps are designed to screw onto water bottles so I had to find a way to secure it.

1. Cut hole for pipe
2. Cut a slot in a tin lid
3. Stapled lid to cupboard.
4. Stapled a piece of wood to the back to stop the tap moving.
5. Threaded pipe through

The pipe feeds through a hole into the water tank, but I bought a longer one so that it reaches to the bottom of the tank. The tap no longer wobbles and can be swivelled to either the sink or the drainer.Having the tap overhanging on a small shelf above a sink would have been an option. Finally I fitted the plug and chain.

Overall I’m really pleased with the result. I’ve used it a few times now and no leaks! I really hope it helps anyone who doesn’t have access to a sink. The only difficult part is using the jig saw. I have lots of experience with power tools having renovated houses and fitted kitchens and my daughter Nikki is a whizz at plumbing so pointed me in the right direction for waste pipes. But if you are not sure I’m sure there’s someone you could ask.

the plumbing items are on this Amazon list SALLYS SINK 

the eBay seller is here UK CARAVAN BREAKERS