ptfe tape or no ptfe tape?

[Welder]

Oh do stop carping

Who's lighting a Roach ? #AhhThoseWereTheDays

 

[Matthew Score]

I always use Jet Blue compound on compression joints, something the old boys that trained me insisted on happening.

I do have to chuckle to myself when I see PTFE on the thread of a compression fitting

 

[Aire]

I do have to chuckle to myself when I see PTFE on the thread of a compression fitting

Or round the threads of a union type lock shield valve

 

[Matthew Score]

Or round the threads of a union type lock shield valve

I once asked a customer who had done his own wet plumbing in a kitchen and got me into do the gas, why on the thread of the elbows!

Answer!! It's called thread tape for a reason

 

[Aire]

I once asked a customer who had done his own wet plumbing in a kitchen and got me into do the gas, why on the thread of the elbows!

Answer!! It's called thread tape for a reason

D.i.yers know it all

 

[KingDoey]

Jet Blue everytime

 

[Jerry]

My 2 cents -

Brand new shiny compression fitting and pipe - just use the olive
Anything else - wrap or two of PTFE and a smear of thread sealant

 

[Martyn2]

I just use the olive, if fitted properly you shouldn't need anything else imo. Then there's the numptys that put ptfe on the thread of compression fittings which bugs me!

Exactly where would you use PTFE Tape? I notice they do different version for gas fittings.

 

[Pickwickpick]

Exactly where would you use PTFE Tape? I notice they do different version for gas fittings.

I never use it on new compression fittings, if I'm reusing an olive that's already in place (e.g. changing TRV/lockshield) I'll sometimes wrap few turns around the olive itself, although even that is more belt and braces tbh and don't always do it. Compression fittings work by the olive being squeezed real tight between the pipe and the body of the compression fittings, although the thread does is allow you to pull everything in nice and tight.

Re gas ptfe its the one in a yellow roll.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I never use it on new compression fittings, if I'm reusing an olive that's already in place (e.g. changing TRV/lockshield) I'll sometimes wrap few turns around the olive itself, although even that is more belt and braces tbh and don't always do it. Compression fittings work by the olive being squeezed real tight between the pipe and the body of the compression fittings, although the thread does is allow you to pull everything in nice and tight.

Re gas ptfe its the one in a yellow roll.

For me the whole fitting is changed. I have rarely used an old nut or olive.

 

[Pickwickpick]

For me the whole fitting is changed. I have rarely used an old nut or olive.

Same more often than not, handful of times with radiagtor valve swaps that I've re-used.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Same more often than not, handful of times with radiagtor valve swaps that I've re-used.

If the valve has been tightened correctly to begin with and not over tightened. The olive should pull off with a bit of persuasion

 

[rpm]

If the valve has been tightened correctly to begin with and not over tightened. The olive should pull off with a bit of persuasion

IF.

 

[Harvest Fields]

IF.

It’s a massive if mate. I end up having to cut most of them off.

 

[Jerry]

If I can get the olive off, then the valve gets a new nut.

If I can't, then it stays on.

Simples.

Question - when you have an olive on so tight, that is has deformed the (old and soft copper pipe), do you think that removing it (with an olive splitter or hacksaw) is a good idea? Would you risk a new olive and a few wraps of tape? Or would you cut it off and solder a new section?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Cut it and put a solder coupler and some new pipe on.

 

[Jerry]

Cut it and put a solder coupler and some new pipe on.

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Yeah, you're probably right.

I am. I do the work

 

[Jerry]

I just love scraping through the layers of paint..

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Get your blow torch on the paint. It comes off much easier, especially when it layer after layer.

 

[Jerry]

Get your blow torch on the paint. It comes off much easier, especially when it layer after layer.

I love the smell of burnt lead paint. It smells of victory!

 

[Stigster]

Or round the threads of a union type lock shield valve

To be fair when I've seen this I think the installer was trying to seal a dodgy one of those unions at the face and the PTFE is just wrapped around the thread to keep it in place whilst being assembled. The PTFE on the thread is doing nothing to seal the fitting of course but it will sometimes help if it is also covering the face of the joint.

 

[Old Account]

As you all know, when it squeaks it leaks ... how often it was that case ... I lost count on that! As explained numerous times, paste is the way and it will act as a sealant.