Joining 1/2" BSP fittings

[pt44]

Hi

Excuse the noob question. However, I occasionally fit showers as part of my work. There seems to be no "standard" way of fitting them - when they are in the wall. The general method that the plumbing shops seem to tell me is to use 1/2" wall plate adaptors, then screw them to a bit of board. This works, but they don't tend to be long enough to go through the wall and tiling. Therefore I have to add a 1/2" male to female extender. This means a LOT of joints. Which I normally seal using PTFE tape. Usually works, however, its far from perfect. Because if you have to put the taps on and off, which often happens when I'm tiling the room. Then each time I loosen, the PTFE tape gets unsealed.

Is there a better way? Boss Super Green for example? Never used it, would that allow for a bit of movement after fitting?

Also, on the Crosswater shower fitting I'm currently using, it has a stupid dogleg type fitting on the hot and cold. Which have to be 150mm apart to be able to fit the taps. However, every time you try and tighten the taps, the dogleg bit turns in the fitting causing it to go out of level. So you have to losen it, to get it level, which in turn ruins the PTFE joint - causing weeping. A nightmare this week.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I also noted on a youtube video that I just watched, a guy was wrapping the PTFE tape around really casually. My dad always showed me to keep the tape flat and wrap it tight. Whereas the video just showed it being wrapped around all twisted. Is that the right way?

Paul

 

[migoplumber]

the "dog legs" are really good!
do your 1st fix, just leave the h+c feeds approx 150mm apart and reasonably level.
use your backplate elbows, with 1/2 inch female thread.
into your thread place 1/2 male female extenders, i still like to use hemp and nowdays boss green
use as many as you like so they extend well out past your tile face. put a blank in the end. test. tile.
remove as many of the extenders needed so your last female thread is just behind your tile face.
dry test your dog legs so the taps sit level, mark with a marker pen the position,
cut your dog legs as needed so they both protrude equally and the covers will sit nicely up to the tile face.
hemp up and fit.
perfect finish.

shaun

 

[pt44]

Hi Shaun

How do you mean - cut dog legs to fit? So far I've just been using PTFE around them, and screwing them in so they are - kind of tight - not fully tight, as then they bottom out. Should I perhaps have a fibre washer behind them or something? And then screw them down tight, hence why you mention cutting them to length?

Paul