pricing up for little job | General Plumbing Jobs Discussion | Page 5 | Plumbers Forums

Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

  • Thread starter supper plumb
  • Start date
  • Replies 161
  • Views 17K

Discuss pricing up for little job in the General Plumbing Jobs Discussion area at Plumbers Forums

Status
Not open for further replies.
Still waiting for my first leak, it'll come one day I know that, but so far I've had none. For some reason though, I bought a tub of JetBlue today. Subliminal thought in my head from reading this thread I suppose?

I don't know why it's so hard to believe there are people out there who have always done their compression fittings right. I never leave a job without checking round every joint I've done.

You shouldn't need to check every joint if you compress them properly & with paste. Still better to check though.
In all seriousness though, - a compression fitting "done right" without paste will mean I assume - the pipe undamaged, full in to fitting & in line & not over or under tightened? Most fittings I see done by others that have slight leaks - when I slacken them they are usually fine & not for example overtightened.
Remember slight leaks are invisible. Paste will seal them.
 
Last edited:
Remember slight leaks are invisible. Paste will seal them.

I check with tissue and a dusty finger. I make sure I do this in front of the customer as I'm tidying away my tools. I dry off any wet pipe and fittings with a tissue/kitcen towel or the like and make sure the customer is watching, I then use my dusty fingers to do the same and it's guranteed the customer is watching your fingers like a hawk expecting them to be wet like the tissue. If its all dry then I'm happy and I know the customer has confirmed there are no leaks with me.

I talk them through everything I'm doing - if they're at all interested like.
 
I check with tissue and a dusty finger.

I talk them through everything I'm doing - if they're at all interested like.

But a tissue or your finger will only pick up a drip, - not a very slight dampness that may evaporate almost before appearing.
You must bore people showing them each joint, - try using paste & save time by confidently leaving in the knowledge there will be no weeps ever! :smile:
 
But a tissue or your finger will only pick up a drip, - not a very slight dampness that may evaporate almost before appearing.
You must bore people showing them each joint, - try using paste & save time by confidently leaving in the knowledge there will be no weeps ever! :smile:
I said 'if they're at all interested' - some people find what you're doing in their house interesting and I'm only too happy to explain if they've asked.

As for leaks and a tissue not picking up dampness, please note my previous post about 'dusty fingers'. Using paste would not save me time doing the checks I do, it would take me longer, plus I'm never in a rush.
 
Using paste would not save me time doing the checks I do, it would take me longer, plus I'm never in a rush.

But, while using paste will add a few seconds each joint (& must admit can be a bit messy on the hands), it will save you time as joints will be watertight. If you ever did have an unpasted joint leak slightly, it probably would waste a lot of time sorting it & perhaps on a call back.
 
But, while using paste will add a few seconds each joint (& must admit can be a bit messy on the hands), it will save you time as joints will be watertight. If you ever did have an unpasted joint leak slightly, it probably would waste a lot of time sorting it & perhaps on a call back.

But I haven't experienced the need to use anything on compression fittings so see no point in trying to fix what's not broken. Plus manufacturer's instructions assure me that my way is the correct way.
 
But I haven't experienced the need to use anything on compression fittings so see no point in trying to fix what's not broken. Plus manufacturer's instructions assure me that my way is the correct way.

I see compression fittings with fairly bad corrosion & at the pipe all the time. Copper or brass olives, it doesn't matter.
As to manufacturers instructions - they are not plumbers, so I wouldn't heed what they state nessesarilly. Tightening a fitting to a piece of copper on a bench test & filling it with water & putting it to several bar pressure for a few hours, proves nothing. In the real world it can leak microscopically & also there will be the possibility of slight movement especially on heating pipes.
 
I see compression fittings with fairly bad corrosion & at the pipe all the time. Copper or brass olives, it doesn't matter.
As to manufacturers instructions - they are not plumbers, so I wouldn't heed what they state nessesarilly. Tightening a fitting to a piece of copper on a bench test & filling it with water & putting it to several bar pressure for a few hours, proves nothing. In the real world it can leak microscopically & also there will be the possibility of slight movement especially on heating pipes.

Not sure if you've notced but I'm a qualified and experienced plumber, I do this sort of thing for a living. Get off my case about it, I don't need your help. When I want help with something I'm not sure or uncomfortable about I'll ask for help but at the moment I'm fine.

Thank you for your concern.
 
Not sure if you've notced but I'm a qualified and experienced plumber, I do this sort of thing for a living. Get off my case about it, I don't need your help. When I want help with something I'm not sure or uncomfortable about I'll ask for help but at the moment I'm fine.

Thank you for your concern.

Keefy, many genuine apologies if you misinterpreted me or the tone of my posts. I am serious in what I post but with a bit of banter also! I thought you were part of that. :smile:
If you reread my posts, you will see I never on any of them offered you "help" or had "concern" about you.
I also have a lot of experience but all plumbers have their own habits, ideas & material choices & are free to do so, - that doesn't mean anyone of us are more right or wrong than the next guy & frankly, it is up to each individual what they perceive to be best.
I read your personality from your posts as being a professional - (you did say you leave no leaks & even prove this to your customers), so I am not questioning your ability or work in any way.
...maybe it is has been a hard day! :smile:
Regards from Best!
 
Last edited:
Not sure if you've notced but I'm a qualified and experienced plumber, I do this sort of thing for a living. Get off my case about it, I don't need your help. When I want help with something I'm not sure or uncomfortable about I'll ask for help but at the moment I'm fine.

Thank you for your concern.

And your concern is noted grumpy lol
 
I to like keefy never put any thing on my compression joints so had a lot of years working that way.but for the last 7 years or so have put a bit of paste on all joints the reason was I worked for a company that wonted paste on joints because there was a big call back rate on leaks on compression joints they employed 70 installers and you where charged for any leaks.can not really personally remember having many problems when I did not use paste but must have been a big problem with 70 installers.i still use paste. but I know I change the way I work from time to time as we all must do or there would be no difference between a apprentice just picking up his first qualification and some one who has been in the trade 50 years.
The thing with having these discussions is that there will be a few people reading various posts and from that they can make up there mind the way to do certain jobs. Most important people doing there apprenticeships and people later in life having a career change because the odds are you will only possibly have worked with one person and none of us can ever no it all.
 
Jet_Blue.jpg

I'll give it a try. :)
 
U wont go back to anything else keefy! That stuff is gold dust! Ive even used it a few times on traps that havent sealed and wouldnt seal dry for some reason (not McAlpine traps)
 
probably a stupid question, but just to make sure, with the paste is applied on the end of the pipe, before the olive?
 
Between olive and fitting. Wether it's on the pipe or on the olive as long as its between olive and fitting
 
Nearly killed me this thread !
Bloody coffee with brandy went down the wrong way !
 
Nearly killed me this thread !
Bloody coffee with brandy went down the wrong way !

Bloody coffee? What are you, a vampire?
 
you dont need paste or ptfe tape on compression fittings as it is the compressed olive that makes the seal, google manufaturers, also you see some clowns rapping tape round the thread on compressions all the time . and all that does is make it harder to tighten up and undo,they only leak if they have not been done properly to start with ie, over tightened is the main cause and then not tightened enough, or some one has tampered with pipe or frost, you only need to use a little ptfe tape on the olive only to fix a leak if the joint was made wrong to start with thats what taught at colleges.
 
Nobody would have ever guessed this thread would have turned into paste or not to paste. Always lively.

I use a smear (like that word) of paste on the olive and never have any problems.

and too clear any issues on this, I don't give a monkeys what anybody else does, as it works for me.


Smear or not to smear, please yourself :)
 
Magicroundabout.jpg

It's like The Magic Roundabout this place. ;)

I've never used anything on compression fittings (although a drop of oil would be good practice) and I'm not looking for a solution to leaky fittings but I'm going to give the Jet Blue a shot. I don't even know why to be honest because it's not like I'll really be able to come back and say - "This gear is amazing, haven't had a leak since I started using it!"

If I get a leak while using it though I'll go all medieval on those who suggested it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar plumbing topics

  • Question
All reasonable suggestions which...
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • Question
Yup and undersized flow/returns/heat emitters...
Replies
29
Views
6K
    • Like
Alpha 2/3 manual. Shows variant with air...
Replies
8
Views
1K
The Orion is about 65% efficient so not great...
Replies
10
Views
3K
Well they seem to work ok so I am in and not...
Replies
20
Views
3K
Back
Top