Using paste on compression joints

[Dannypipe]

I use jet blue too. A little smear on the olive never hurt anyone!

I haven't not done it in years, and we all know the first time I don't.....it will leak!!!

 

[Best]

I use jet blue plus. Only a small smear. It stops that awful screech and IMO gives a better joint.
It allows slight movement in the pipe. Easier to break fittings for future work
Ensures no future leaks

Exactly! Lubricates & seals! Couldn't agree more.

 

[dancinplumba]

guess am outvoted then lol,

 

[SimonJohns]

I use jet blue too. A little smear on the olive never hurt anyone!

I haven't not done it in years, and we all know the first time I don't.....it will leak!!!

That moment when you "why didn't I just *#@&£%*#$€¥" and you always use a compound afterwards

 

[Mike Jackson]

95% of the time you don't need it but it's that 5% of the time when you get a weep that you wish you'd used paste.

 

[Rickster123]

I always paste every compression joint. Especially rad valves. No worse feeling than filling up to find a tiny drip on a ground floor rad with no drain off on a Friday afternoon!

 

[WaterTight]

95% of the time that you visit a compression joint that's leaking it's not got any paste or ptfe on the olive.

 

[Roger Welton]

Always use it, worst case it doesn't do anything.

 

[TerryWaite]

ask any manufacturer of compression joints they will tell you its not required, its time consuming and you should have confidence, just make sure its tightened right, not over tightened
imo

I agree

 

[TerryWaite]

If its a nut an olive as long as its full socket and square, its not gonna leak. I only paste on repairs (joints that havent been done correctly or distorted olives) and union connections on radiators. Other than that you are wasting time as they are intended as metal on metal joints, if they werent, im sure you would get a little sachet of paste with each one you bought

 

[dancinplumba]

nicely put terry

 

[Best]

If its a nut an olive as long as its full socket and square, its not gonna leak. I only paste on repairs (joints that havent been done correctly or distorted olives) and union connections on radiators. Other than that you are wasting time as they are intended as metal on metal joints, if they werent, im sure you would get a little sachet of paste with each one you bought

I don't think the manufacturers care. And I bet any tests they may have done on their fittings are not a long term tests.
An example I have just come across last week, was a cold storage tank in an attic, I helped install years ago. When I got up to turn stopcocks off ( to fix a shower valve ), I straight away noticed a brass tee & connector on mains pipe to ball valve. Both have some white corrosion, in other words leaking. Not my work, but a plumber friend of lady had messed about when fitting a new ball valve, when doing a favour. To be honest, I wouldn't have used brass where possible, just solder, but all my original brass joints, to stopcocks etc, are totally sound. I am going to rip out & replace the guys work, & I bet any money, the guys fittings have no paste!

 

[TerryWaite]

I always paste every compression joint. Especially rad valves. No worse feeling than filling up to find a tiny drip on a ground floor rad with no drain off on a Friday afternoon!

One of my mentors always said to me never fill up on a friday afternoon and hes so right! I understand alot of the time we have no choice but its the worst feeling ever like you said 4pm friday draining down to do a nut on a rad. This guy would have been on the 10th tee by then!

 

[GrahamM]

We can go on and on and on about this till the cows come home.

A properly fitted compression fitting requires no sealing aids. Have done countless myself and have seen countless fittings that have been done correctly without any aids that are decades old.

 

[Best]

We can go on and on and on about this till the cows come home.

A properly fitted compression fitting requires no sealing aids. Have done countless myself and have seen countless fittings that have been done correctly without any aids that are decades old.

Yea, everyone will do what they are comfortable with. It has to be also said that quality of fittings & olives can be a factor. Also, the old brass fittings of yesteryear were top quality - & heavy brass olives + heavy imperial copper pipes! A lot of them didn't have paste & are generally sound, although even some of them seize. I have looked carefully at other peoples leaking brass fittings, when I open them, & I often see nothing wrong, ( olive not over done, pipe straight in, etc ) except that there was no paste!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

i use inly on 22 mm with brass olives !

 

[AWheating]

i do use paste on compression fitting that are on heating systems because of the heat involved and the amount of expansion due to heat, how many times do you find a rad valve only leaks when hot??
i find it hard to recommend its use tho because too many times ive seen valves and filters blocked up due to over use of paste. So yes its good to use it but only a very small amount is needed.

on gas paste is only recommended on exsisting fittings and not used on new fittings.

 

[Howsie]

Exactly! Lubricates & seals! Couldn't agree more.

What's to lubricate? Friction is important on a joint.

 

[dancinplumba]

nice one howsie to a 'T'

 

[j0hnb0y]

god there are some brave souls out there , it can mess up strainers & filters on gas valves , showers and diverters... and i have been in and out of this camp for years as an apprentice, fitter, service engineer and now believe that when used correctly it is an engineers best friend.
lets have an argument on jet blue V boss white ???

 

[stevetheplumber]

That's the wrong thought, IMO. The paste ( just a slight smear needed) will not stop the nut tightening tight to olive, how could it? Providing you use only a little paste, the metal parts will hit hard & the small smear of paste will fill the imperfections.
I would say that paste is the more professional job. Trust me, no leaks at all with paste.

i agree with the above ptfe on compression fittings it definately in john wayne teritory

 

[stevetheplumber]

god there are some brave souls out there , it can mess up strainers & filters on gas valves , showers and diverters... and i have been in and out of this camp for years as an apprentice, fitter, service engineer and now believe that when used correctly it is an engineers best friend.
lets have an argument on jet blue V boss white ???

legal or not theres a tin of white in my box the blue is rubbish

 

[zzzjim]

What's to lubricate? Friction is important on a joint.

Too much friction and the joint does not bed in well , slight smear on threads from handling things = No Squeal ( But that could be saying Too tight ! )

 

[j0hnb0y]

can anyone remember boss green(with PTFE built in), i hated the stuff.
oh the glory days of hemp and boss white on 4" dry risers, i feel suicidal!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dannypipe]

NO!!!! Don't put it on the threads!

The non paste users are going to have a field day with that.