Turner Hastings Basket Wastes

Turner Hastings basket wastes guide

A basket waste is the strainer that sits in the drain hole of a kitchen sink. It is a deep, cup-shaped basket that catches food scraps and doubles as the plug. This collection holds the Turner Hastings basket waste, a 90 x 50mm size, in a range of finishes from brushed brass and antique brass to matte black, matte white, gunmetal, brushed nickel, polished stainless steel and English bronze. The questions that matter are the same for every finish: whether the hole and the outlet match your sink, whether the thread is long enough for the thickness of the bowl, and what the finish is made of. The sections below cover what the listings state and what the plumbing guides add. For the wider range of strainers and plugs, start at sink wastes.

What the basket in the sink is called

People search for this part under several names: basket waste, sink strainer, drain basket and sink plug and waste. They describe one idea. The Blue Space's sink strainer buying guide defines a basket waste as a deep, cup-shaped strainer that also acts as the plug. You push it down to seal the sink and pull it up to let the water go. That is different from a flat or grid strainer, which the same guide says do not seal, so a sink fitted with one needs a separate plug. The Turner Hastings listings state the same behaviour in their own words: no extra plug is needed, because the strainer pushes down and pulls up.

The basket also does a second job that is easy to overlook. It holds back food scraps and other debris before they reach the trap, and it lifts out so that you can empty it into the bin. A retailer page for a comparable 50mm basket waste makes the same point, noting that the basket lifts out for easy cleaning.

Are all sink baskets the same size

No. This is the question people ask most often, and the guides are consistent on the answer. The Blue Space guide says 90mm is the standard Australian kitchen waste diameter, which means the hole in the sink is usually 90mm across. The outlet below the sink is a separate measurement. The Turner Hastings basket wastes in this collection are listed as 90 x 50mm: a 90mm hole and a 50mm outlet. A comparable retailer product lists a 114mm waste diameter and a 50mm trap size, which shows how much the visible part of a basket waste can differ even when the trap size is the same.

Because the sizes vary, measure before you order. A plumbing supplier's sizing article suggests measuring the drain mesh or the underside of the old plug. The Blue Space guide adds a simple habit: bring the old part with you, or compare it against the listing, so that the new one matches the hole and the thread.

The extended 70mm thread and thick sinks

Thread length is where basket wastes differ most, and it matters most on butler sinks and thick ceramic sinks. The bowl of a fireclay or concrete sink can be far thicker than a stainless steel sink, and a standard thread can run out before the lock nut finds anything to grip. The Blue Space guide notes that butler sinks need a longer thread, up to 70mm.

The Turner Hastings listings answer this directly. The Brushed Brass listing states an included extended 70mm thread for thick ceramic sinks, and the English Bronze listing says the waste suits sinks between 0 and 70mm thick, with no minimum thickness. The same listing text also says the waste can be used in stainless steel or granite sinks. For a thin stainless steel bowl or a very thick butler sink, the same part is intended to fit.

Stainless steel top and ABS base

Several of the finishes share one construction. The listings describe a stainless steel top with an ABS plastic base. The brushed brass listing uses this wording, and so do the brushed nickel and polished stainless steel listings. The brushed brass listing adds a gloss lacquer over the finish to prevent scratches. The stainless steel gives the visible strainer its strength. The plastic base sits below the bowl, where it is out of sight.

The English Bronze listing, by contrast, describes the waste as stainless steel with a PVD finish. It gives a surface length of 114mm and an overall height of 66mm, which are useful figures to compare against the opening in your sink and the space under it. If you need to match the part to a particular sink, those dimensions are the ones to check first.

The Italian-made polypropylene versions

The matte white and matte black wastes are a different material. Both listings describe a premium polypropylene basket waste made in Italy. The text says the colour runs solid through the part, so scratches do not show the way they do on a coated metal surface, and that the material has been tested to withstand temperatures up to 230 degrees Celsius. Both listings state an extra-long thread designed for fireclay sinks, and say the waste will also suit any sink.

The matte black listing explains the choice of material. It says the waste is no longer made from metal, because the material chosen is durable and highly resistant to scratching. That is a design decision rather than a limitation. If a black or white finish matters to you and you do not want to see wear on a coated surface, the polypropylene versions are the ones built to avoid it.

Finishes: what the listings say about PVD and electroplating

The listings do not use one process word consistently, and it is better to say so than to guess. The Brushed Brass listing describes a PVD Brushed Brass finish, and the English Bronze and brushed nickel listings use the term PVD as well. Other listing text says electroplated, and the gunmetal and antique brass pages read "Bronze electroplated" in places. The matte black page calls the part electroplated while describing a solid-colour polypropylene body.

PVD is a vacuum coating process, and a plated finish is applied in a bath. They are different processes and wear differently. Because the listing text for this collection mixes the two terms, check the Finish line on the specific product page before you rely on one. The colour names and the materials above are the details the listings agree on.

Matching a basket waste to your sink and tapware

One practical reason to buy from a single maker is that finishes match. The Brushed Brass listing says the waste is designed to match the Novi butler sinks, and suggests pairing it with the Frances and Clasico kitchen sink mixers. The Novi sinks are in Turner Hastings butler sinks, and the mixers are in Turner Hastings kitchen taps.

The other finishes in the collection are brushed nickel and gunmetal, antique brass and English bronze, and polished stainless steel. Matching is a visual choice. It does not change whether the waste fits, which depends on the hole size and the thread.

Stainless steel, granite and other sink materials

The listings make a point of compatibility. The English Bronze listing states that the waste works in stainless steel or granite sinks as well as thick ceramic ones, and the Brushed Brass listing says the same. That matters because the thread length is the usual reason a waste fails to fit. A waste with a short thread suits a thin stainless steel bowl and little else. One with an extended thread covers a wider range.

The polypropylene wastes are described the same way: built with an extra-long thread for fireclay sinks, and suitable for any sink. If you are unsure which category your sink falls into, measure the thickness of the bowl at the hole before choosing. The listings put the range at 0 to 70mm, so anything within that suits the waste.

Do you need a separate plug

Not with this waste. The listings say no extra plug is needed, because the strainer pushes down to seal and pulls up to release. The Blue Space guide explains why that works: the basket is a deep, cup-shaped part that doubles as the plug, and a flat strainer does not seal. The check is the rubber seal. Look at it when you first fit the waste and again from time to time, because a worn seal is the usual reason a basket waste stops holding water.

One caution applies to sinks with an overflow. The guide says an overflow sink needs a compatible basket, so confirm the sink's overflow arrangement before you buy. Check the sink's own specification for its overflow arrangement.

Replacing a basket waste

The steps are mechanical, and the guides agree on them. Turn off the water and clear the cabinet under the sink. Remove the old basket, then undo the lock nut that holds the waste to the underside of the bowl, and lift the old waste out. Clean the sink surface around the hole so that the new waste sits flat. Fit the new waste with the gasket in place and a bead of sealant where the guide calls for one, then tighten the lock nut from below. A US manufacturer's replacement guide gives these steps for a hole about 90mm across, which matches the Australian standard.

Test the waste before you close the cabinet. Fill the bowl, pull the plug and watch the connection below for drips. If the thread runs out before the nut tightens, the waste is too short for the bowl and needs a longer thread.

Care and cleaning

Keep the strainer clear and the waste will behave. The Blue Space guide recommends rinsing the basket after use, wiping the rim of the waste weekly, and checking the rubber seal. A soft cloth and mild soap suit most coated and plated finishes, because abrasive pads and strong cleaners can strip a finish. Retailer care notes for PVD finishes also caution against vinegar and abrasive cleaners, so avoid both on the PVD versions.

Remove the basket and tip it into the bin rather than rinsing food scraps down the drain. A basket that is emptied each day stays clear, and the trap below stays cleaner for longer.

Unblocking a slow kitchen sink

If the sink drains slowly, begin with the basket. Lift it out and clear anything caught in the holes. A plumbing guide on unblocking kitchen sinks lists five methods in order, starting with the simplest, and recommends keeping a strainer in place daily. It also advises against pouring boiling water down PVC pipework. A plumbing firm's article on blockages names grease, soap and food scraps as the usual causes. The strainer is the first line of defence.

If a blockage returns, call a plumber. Recurring blockages point to a problem further along the pipe, beyond what the strainer or a plunger can reach.

Basket waste or flat strainer

The choice comes down to whether the sink needs a plug. A flat or grid strainer lets water through and catches larger debris, but the Blue Space guide says it does not seal, so a sink fitted with one needs a separate plug to hold water. A basket waste combines the two jobs. You push the basket down to seal the bowl for washing, and pull it up to drain. If you wash up in the sink, the basket waste removes one loose part from the bench. If your sink already has a plug arrangement you prefer, a flat strainer may suit better, and the sink wastes range covers those as well.

Reading a basket waste listing

Each listing carries a handful of figures, and each answers one fitting question. The 90 x 50mm size gives the hole and the outlet. The thread length, 70mm on the extended versions, tells you how thick a bowl the waste can reach. The surface length of 114mm and the overall height of 66mm on the English Bronze listing describe the visible strainer and the depth below it. The Finish line names the coating, and the material line names the top and the base. Read all five before you order, because a waste that matches on size but not on thread is the usual cause of a return trip to the store.

Heat and the polypropylene wastes

The matte white and matte black listings state that the material has been tested to withstand temperatures up to 230 degrees Celsius. That is a statement about the waste itself. It does not describe the pipework below the sink. The unblocking guide cited above warns against pouring boiling water down PVC pipes, and that caution stands whichever waste is fitted. The pipe below is a separate part with its own limits.

When to call a plumber

Replacing a basket waste is within reach of a careful household, but some jobs are not. If water leaks from the connection after you tighten the lock nut or refit the gasket, stop and call a licensed plumber. The same applies if the old waste is seized or corroded, or if the pipework under the sink does not match the 50mm outlet. A plumber can also advise on a sink that blocks repeatedly, which the guides treat as a sign of a fault further down the line rather than a problem with the strainer.

Basket wastes and the trap below

The basket waste is the visible part of a longer assembly. Below it sit the outlet, the waste pipe and the trap, and these are bought and fitted separately from the strainer. The collection of Turner Hastings wastes and traps holds the range, and a basket waste sits at the top of that assembly.

The 50mm outlet in the listing is the connection point. Before you order, check that the pipework under your sink uses a compatible 50mm connection. If the outlet differs, an adaptor or a different size of waste may be needed.

Choosing the right finish

Start with the sink. A butler sink in white fireclay suits the polypropylene wastes, which are built with an extra-long thread for that material. A stainless steel sink suits the stainless steel and plated finishes.

Then think about use. A busy family kitchen puts the strainer through daily wear. The polypropylene versions carry colour all the way through, so scratches show less, and the listings say a gloss lacquer is applied to some of the metal finishes to prevent scratches. Finally, match the tapware to the finish you choose from the listings above.

How to choose

Measure the hole in the sink, and confirm it is the standard 90mm. Check the thickness of the bowl against the thread length, remembering that the extended thread is listed for sinks from 0 to 70mm thick. Confirm that the pipework below suits the 50mm outlet. Then pick the material and the finish: polypropylene if you want solid colour, or a stainless steel top on an ABS base if you want a metal look.

Once those checks are done, the choice is about appearance. If you are still comparing options across brands and sink types, browse the full range at kitchen sinks and the matching wastes alongside them.