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Discussion Forum

How many Teflon wraps?

McDesign | Posted in Construction Techniques on May 29, 2007 12:59pm

Mostly 1/2 or 3/4 NPT (metal), air and water; I’ve always done 3 wraps.  Out of a whole project, would have a few weepers that needed tightening.  Recently increased to six wraps; no apparent initial leaks.

Y’all’s experience?

Forrest

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BarryE | May 29, 2007 01:04am | #1

    99,999

    never leaks


    Barry E-Remodeler

     

    1. User avater
      McDesign | May 29, 2007 01:07am | #2

      Boy, thank God for BT!

      Thanks again.

      Forrest - keep painting until the room's too small to get in

      1. User avater
        BarryE | May 29, 2007 01:35am | #5

        glad to help. surprising how that answer can be used in a variety of situations.<g>

        Barry E-Remodeler

         

  2. plumbbill | May 29, 2007 01:10am | #3

    Depends on what teflon tape, how deep the threads are cut, quality of the threads, etc.........

    How tight is tight...........

    It's kind of an open ended question with no "real" answer.

    I tape then dope, very few leaks.

    Too much tape, can hold a test, but then leak during use, cause the gap is too big.

    If you think of tape as a lubricant to keep the threads from binding you will have fewer leaks.

    If you don't stand behind the troops, why don't you try standing in front of them. Bumper sticker

  3. VAVince | May 29, 2007 01:10am | #4

    How in the heck do you get the treads to start with 6 raps?



    Edited 5/28/2007 6:11 pm ET by VAVince

  4. DanH | May 29, 2007 01:59am | #6

    I've generally done two, trying to be fairly exact about it (not 2-1/2).  Three, maybe, if the threads are yucky looking.  I'd agree that with six you couldn't get the threads started.

    So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
    1. User avater
      McDesign | May 29, 2007 02:07am | #7

      Had no problem with 6 wraps today.  Five new 1/2" x 4" brushed nickel over brass nipples from Lowes; teflon taped both ends; one end into drop-eared brass elbows in the wall, other end into angle stops.  Toilet and double-lav vanity - all smooth as silk. 

      Maybe I'm using cheap thin tape?  Not the thick yellow stuff?

      Forrest - dry

      1. plumbbill | May 29, 2007 02:26am | #8

        The yellow is generally for gas.

         I have a case of thick pink teflon I like to pull out & see the looks on peoples faces.

        Also have some blue that is rated for oxygen.If you don't stand behind the troops, why don't you try standing in front of them. Bumper sticker

        1. User avater
          Dinosaur | May 29, 2007 05:25am | #10

          Okay, I'll be the one who bites: If yellow is for gas, and blue is for oxy, what's the pink stuff for?

           

          I just use the thin white stuff, wrap it till it breaks and call it good. That's about three or four turns on most days.... <(;o)>

          Dinosaur

           

          How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          1. plumbbill | May 29, 2007 06:22am | #11

            I have no clue, just found it on the job one day.If you don't stand behind the troops, why don't you try standing in front of them. Bumper sticker

          2. User avater
            Dinosaur | May 29, 2007 06:27am | #13

            Oh, great! Now I'm gonna dream about wondering what it's for!!

             

            Dinosaur

             

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          3. plumbbill | May 29, 2007 06:35am | #14

            LOL

            So yer not up all night, it's for higher temp lines.

            Usually found on medium pressure steam lines.If you don't stand behind the troops, why don't you try standing in front of them. Bumper sticker

          4. User avater
            Dinosaur | May 29, 2007 06:38am | #15

            Ahhhhhh, the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

            Forty-two....

            Dinosaur

             

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          5. User avater
            gdcarpenter | May 30, 2007 05:54am | #16

            Thnat's the anwer alrighty, What's the queation?Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

          6. User avater
            Dinosaur | May 30, 2007 07:00pm | #22

            Thnat's the anwer alrighty, What's the queation?

             

             

            From: 

            Dinosaur <!----><!----> 

            May-28 11:38 pm 

            To: 

            plumbbill <!----><!---->

             (16 of 22) 

             

            90412.16 in reply to 90412.15 

             Ahhhh..... [what's] the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

            Forty-two....

            Dinosaur

             

             

             

            Dinosaur

             

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          7. andybuildz | May 30, 2007 07:40am | #17

            Will pipe dope and teflon tape work on PVC to PVC like on a pool line to the pump?

             

            "Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit." Abbie Hoffman

            http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM                                 

             

          8. plumbbill | May 30, 2007 02:50pm | #21

            Yes, but be real carefull on what brand of dope. Some dopes don't react well with pvc.

            Megalok by hercules works well on PVC, put on lightly, & it cleans up with water.If you don't stand behind the troops, why don't you try standing in front of them. Bumper sticker

          9. User avater
            zak | May 30, 2007 07:54am | #18

            I'm not sure exactly how I ended up with the stuff, but I use that pink teflon tape quite a bit now- much thicker than the cheapo white tape, two wraps does it every time. 

            And it matches my handbag, too.zak

            "When we build, let us think that we build forever.  Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin

            "so it goes"

             

          10. User avater
            xxPaulCPxx | May 30, 2007 09:23am | #19

            (pssst - we call it a "man purse")Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

            Also a CRX fanatic!

            Parenting has always been a mix of sage life advice and inexcusable laziness.

  5. MisterT | May 29, 2007 04:18am | #9

    rector seal t plus

    http://www.rectorseal.com/index.php?site_id=1&product_id=213

    I wish I knew how to insert an annoying Martha Stewart Banner in my tagline....



    Edited 5/28/2007 9:22 pm ET by MisterT

  6. wrudiger | May 29, 2007 06:26am | #12

    I usually did 3 or 4, but I've reformed.  On a recent project but - landscape irrigation, with PVC-to-PVC threads I found the hard way that 3 is too many.  2 or a little more is max.  Otherwise it leaks almost every time.

  7. AJinNZ | May 30, 2007 10:29am | #20

    I use hemp ( its actually wool ) almost all the time. It swells when it gets wet and makes an excellent seal.

     

    Only use teflon for plastic on plastic joints and use as many wraps as looks right. However many that might be........

     

    Not an exponent of the DILLIGAF system.

  8. User avater
    Mongo | May 30, 2007 08:20pm | #23

    From an old thread:

    Only read this if you have insomnia:

    Originally PTFE tape was made in both a single density and double density type. The single density type was typically made in 1/2" x 520" rolls and commonly distributed in all hardware stores.

    Double density PTFE tape was made in 1/2", 3/4" & 1" widths and typically distributed through the Plumbing, HVAC and Mill Supply stores but rarely found in the hardware.

    Many jurisdictions adopted the double density tape as the standard for sealing threads on natural gas lines. Later, in an effort to insure the double density tape was being used the industry began making the double density in a yellow color to distinguish it from its single density counterpart.

    Recently the ASTM(American Society of Testing & materials) and ANSI(American National Standards Institute) adopted new standards for PTFE tape and instituted a color coding system to identify the different grades.

    White..Single Density -for NPT threads =/3/8" but =/ 3/8" but =/

    Copper..PTFE tape containing copper granules,,used as a thread lubricant but may not be used as a thread sealer.

    PTFE tape is only approved when the proper type is matched to the size of the joint and when three full wraps are applied under tension and wrapped in the direction of the thread.

    While Teflon tape is commonly used by the homeowner and some tradesmen for all thread joints it is best to only use it on "Non-permanent" joints, such as attaching the shower arm, an angle stop or other joints that will require periodically changing out.

    PIPE DOPE is the preferred thread sealant for permanent joints, such as threaded water lines or gas lines, but you must be careful when selecting pipe dope. You must read the labels carefully and be sure the product you select is specifically labelled as suitable for the application that you intend to use it for.

    In the hardware stores we commonly find either the Gray pipe dope or the white "teflon" pipe dope. The white teflon pipe dope has a small advantage because it contains teflon granules that work as a thread lubricant which aids in making tight joints.

    Most tradesmen rely upon Rectorseal which is a nearly universal pipe thread dope which is listed for Potable water, Non-potable water, Steam, Natural Gas, Propane, Gasoline, High pressure Air, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and most industrial gasses & chemicals.

    While RectorSeal is difficult to find in the hardware or big box stores it can be commonly found in any Plumbing, HVAC or Electrical supply house in sizes ranging from a 4oz can to a gallon bucket.

    Rector seal is made in both a hardening and non-hardening formula. The hardening type is most commonly used on steam piping while the non-hardening type would be most suitable for the typical residential application. The non-hardening type also has the advantage that it will not dry up and get hard in storage.

    Mongo

    1. User avater
      McDesign | May 31, 2007 02:18am | #24

      Wow!

      Thanks for the interesting read.  Sounds like I should go back to RectorSeal!

      It's just so darn goopy -

      And it smells bad

      Forrest

      1. User avater
        xxPaulCPxx | May 31, 2007 05:50am | #25

        It's also alot of fun when you step on an errent tube and track it.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

        Also a CRX fanatic!

        Parenting has always been a mix of sage life advice and inexcusable laziness.

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