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Discussion Forum

Is it just my imagination …

DanH | Posted in General Discussion on June 22, 2010 08:03am

… or has Teflon pipe joint tape gotten a lot thinner than, say, 30 years ago?

I guess if they make it thinner they can make more feet of the stuff out of the same amount of plastic goo, but it seems pretty silly.

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  1. calvin | Jun 22, 2010 08:19pm | #1

    Well

    it folds on itself alot easier.....................

    tears harder-at least the last roll.  Bunches up and doesn't make a clean tear.

    Never buy the stuff-seems like there's a couple / half dozen of those mini rolls on the dash.

    1. User avater
      Matt | Jun 23, 2010 06:15pm | #5

      Your truck....

      sounds like it might be a little like mine....  Like I told the trim carps the other day - I punch all trades....

      Sometimes people make fun of it.  Often an hour, day, or whatever later it's "Hey Matt, you got a ____?" from the same person.

      or: "hey, you got any____?"  

      My standard answer: Yes, if I can find it....

      DW told me that if I clean my truck out it will probably get better gas milage.  As usual, she is right :-)

      1. calvin | Jun 23, 2010 09:25pm | #7

        Well Matt

        you being in "management" probably is why you have to respond "if I an find it".

        I'm the boss, the employee and the only one left to ask....................and with good organizational skills-I know if I got it and know where to find it.

        The dash board is the place for that tape.  Small stuff like that-one of's , maybe even a white door bump-hinge or wall mount.

        Of course there's the cab. tote-with all the cab hinge, mounting and joining screws (not the install basket, but supplies in case needed-you bet all sorts of knob length screws along with the breakaway's).

        All the rest is standard finish/frame necessities and a fine selection of screws.

        If it's anything I hate and I assume the customer would-...............................uh, I need to go get ?.......................

        Fuck it, I probably have it.

        1. leftisright | Jun 29, 2010 04:36pm | #16

          You're being paged on the new place regarding swag for the fest....

  2. k1c | Jun 22, 2010 09:34pm | #2

    teflon tapes

    I bought 30 rolls from harbor freight about 20 years ago and they were thinner.  Sometimes I would forget and had to buy from plumbers shops and noticed how thicker they were.  I used the thin ones not knowing that they were thin and wound them 4 times around the threads as recommended and noticed slow leaks when changing water heaters.  Then I came across a recommendation saying I should use both tape and dope.  I still have few rolls of thin tapes and I do 8 times around the thread, then use dope, lol.

    1. JTC1 | Jun 23, 2010 08:53am | #3

      Not just you

      Teflon tape has been getting progressively thinner for years.

      Ever notice it is always sold by the inch or foot? Thinner = less material.

      I have an ancient roll which my Dad brought home during development at DuPont, I'd guess it is 4 or 5 times as thick as the current production.

      But the thinner stuff does wrap easier / conform better.....

      Jim

      1. Piffin | Jun 26, 2010 06:15pm | #10

        I can remember when

        the recommendation was wrap once around , course you had to get almost two to wrap onto itself and to get it parted.

        I never have to buy any - just pick up the partial rolls plumbers forget and leave behind.

  3. Shacko | Jun 23, 2010 02:06pm | #4

    Teflon Tape

    Its always been that way, you can't expect much at a price of 10 rolls for a buck; you got to watch them Chinese, they be tricky!

    Truth be told, if you buy an American brand it usually is nice and thick.

  4. jyang949 | Jun 23, 2010 06:45pm | #6

    Somewhere--FHB?--I read that pink tape is thicker.

    Janet

  5. andybuildz | Jun 23, 2010 11:28pm | #8

    One things sure as shid..Solder has gotten insanely expensive..reckon they're trying to make up for the business PEX is taking from them...not that crimp rings are all that cheap..

    1. JTC1 | Jun 24, 2010 02:06pm | #9

      Expesive solder

      Sure enough!

      But I think the price made the crazy jump when they quit using lead 50-50.

      95-5 or any of the other lead free types are way more expensive.

      Jim

      1. Piffin | Jun 26, 2010 06:16pm | #11

        more silver in solder now

        1. DanH | Jun 26, 2010 06:40pm | #12

          And less lead.

          1. gfretwell | Jun 28, 2010 12:25pm | #15

            You can still buy the 40/60 and 60/40 but the price of that shot up too. I imagine that is just a lawyer tax you pay in case lead producers get sued.

  6. runnerguy | Jun 27, 2010 03:52pm | #13

    Or maybe we've all gotten a little bit fatter......Noooooooooo!!!!

    Doug

  7. User avater
    Mongo | Jun 27, 2010 09:57pm | #14

    I can't believe the search function worked!

     Look about 10 posts down, more info than you ever wanted to know.  

    http://forums.finehomebuilding.com/breaktime/construction-techniques/teflon-tape-correct-application

     

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