We've already covered the Plumtool Lugged Elbow Level on its own — it's the tool that stops a lugged elbow going in crooked in the first place. The question worth answering here is different: when does it make sense to buy that level as part of the full Lugged Elbow Rough-In Kit (PTKIT-LUG) instead?
What the kit adds on top of the level
- Lugged Elbow Extender Kit (PLBE1836) — an internal threaded extension for when the elbow ends up sitting too deep behind the finished wall, without cutting tiles to fix it
- Lugged Elbow Extenders, solid brass 15mm, pack of 6 (PLXE7532) — spares for the extender kit
- Lugged Elbow Level, dual vials, magnetic top (PLEL9286)
- Nipple Cutter and Catcher, suits lead-free brass (PTNC8561)
The level solves set-out — getting the elbow square and plumb while you've still got access. The extender kit and its spare extenders solve the opposite problem: the elbow was set out fine, but tiling or cladding has brought the finished wall surface further out than the breech reaches, and the fix is an internal thread extension rather than chasing the wall open again. The nipple cutter and catcher rounds the kit out for cutting brass nipples to length and bevelling the thread cleanly, with a built-in catcher so swarf doesn't end up inside the pipe — worth it on potable water work where metal shavings in the line are a real compliance issue, not just a tidiness one.
When to buy just the level
If you're doing straightforward rough-ins on new work where wall thickness is known and consistent, the level by itself does the job — it's the $85.89 tool that gets used on every lugged elbow you set out. The extender kit, extenders and nipple cutter earn their keep on renovation and retrofit work, where you're fitting off against an existing wall and don't know exactly how deep the elbow needs to sit until you get there.
Kit price vs buying separately
All four pieces bought individually come to $338.77 (extender kit $89.00, 6-pack extenders $64.99, level $85.89, nipple cutter $98.89). The kit is $304.89, a genuine 10% saving — worth it if your work is a mix of new rough-ins and fit-offs against existing walls, which is most trade plumbing. If you only ever do new work, the level on its own is the better buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the extender kit if I'm only doing new rough-ins?
Not usually — the extender kit solves a retrofit problem (the elbow sitting too deep behind an existing finished wall). On new work where you control wall thickness from the start, the Lugged Elbow Level on its own is normally enough.
Is the nipple cutter safe to use on lead-free brass?
Yes — the Nipple Cutter and Catcher included in the kit is designed to suit lead-free brass as well as traditional brass pipe nipples.
How much do I save buying the kit instead of the four pieces separately?
$33.88 — the four components cost $338.77 bought individually, against $304.89 for the kit.
What's the actual risk of metal shavings from cutting a nipple without the catcher?
Loose swarf left inside a potable water line can end up lodged in a tap washer, aerator or valve seat downstream, causing a leak or a blockage that's awkward to trace back to its source — the catcher is built to stop that at the cut, not after.