Pipe Dope Testing

Ken_40

Laco Slick-Tite went well with tuna salad. Had sort of a minty flavor

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Ken_40

What's the BEST dope for steam?

A few days ago the question of which pipe dope is best for steam piping was raised once again.

I am almost retired and have nothing better to do. It is my belief/contention that most pipe dopes "leach out" into the system piping, ultimately returning to the water surface in the steam chest, causing priming and surging long after we clean and skim the boiler.

To determine what brand and form of pipe dopes do NOT do this, I can do the following:

1) Get as many dope samples as possible from you, and put half a teaspoon-full of each pipe dope I receive into a small paper cup filled with water. Heat the water to 212F/boiling and see if the dope stays "together" or if oil-like coumpounds leach out and float on the surface.

2) I could simply boil water in a sauce pan and pour it into the paper cup, pre-doped with a sample.

3) I could close-up photograph the before and after shot of the dope in the boiling water cup surface as "evidence" of how it behaves.

4) How should you send your sample? Easy. Way one: take an old 35MM film canister and fill it 1/2 way with any pipe dopes you use. You must identify the brand and trade-name. Get a post office mailer and send it to me here in VT.

Way two: Put a teaspoon of your pipe dope(s) in a ziplock sandwich bag. To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Doc Radiant

Lunch

When my hands were smeared with pipe dope, I always preferred Hercules Pro Dope when eating my sandwich. Best taste, goes well with mustard too. A little lamp wick for flossing and I was good to go! ;-)

(Sorry Ken, I couldn't resist...)

Doc Radiant

LOL! I think we can agree that flux is the worst though - doesn't seem to go with anything...

Seriously, the little bit of steam I did, pro dope and lamp wick seemed to do the job.

bob young

ham , swiss & permy

permatex is my favorite but i did love alumack because of the added asbestos fibres. yummy.

jim lockard

I thought

The dope that the guy sold down by the CVS went best with steam- sorry Ken all gone J.Lockard

mtfallsmikey

My fave always was

Good 'ole Rectorseal #5. Went well with BBQ flavor Vienna Sausages / potted meat food product.