Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
TTT, teflon tape tips

hot_rod
Member Posts: 19,954
Problems arise when the tape ends up inside the pipe as well as outside. We see "shards" in pumps, valves, strainers, etc.
The key is to start the tape one or two threads back from the end of the male thread. Not off the end like the right side of this nipple shown. Starting back a thread keeps it from getting inside and causing headaches.
Some plumbers put a coating of pipe dope over the tape. Some plumbers put pipe dope then teflon tape. Some plumbers tape the male thread and tread dope inside the fitting.
The tape should work fine by itself.
Different stokes for different folks.
I don't know there is a huge difference in tape color other than a visual. The stainless steel specific tape seems to have a coating of something like anti seize.
The key is to start the tape one or two threads back from the end of the male thread. Not off the end like the right side of this nipple shown. Starting back a thread keeps it from getting inside and causing headaches.
Some plumbers put a coating of pipe dope over the tape. Some plumbers put pipe dope then teflon tape. Some plumbers tape the male thread and tread dope inside the fitting.
The tape should work fine by itself.
Different stokes for different folks.
I don't know there is a huge difference in tape color other than a visual. The stainless steel specific tape seems to have a coating of something like anti seize.
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream
1
Comments
-
Is the yellow tape just a minimum thickness? Is blue monster blue tape and yellow tape the same but blue hasn't gone through an additional testing process?0
-
-
The first generation Teflon Tape I used, Dupont?? Was thick and high quality. Then all we got was thin shredding garbage tape until Blue Monster Came along. The first time I used Teflon tape in 1986, Jimmy O' Brien (Dubliner) chastised me : "Son...for @." I was on my 10th turn...ha ha 😂 🤣 .
I always use dope over the tape also. I know one VG plumber who puts Tape, wick, tape, dope on all his wet joints! Crazy, but he swears by it and they don't leak. Mad Dog 🐕0 -
Supposedly any teflon approved for gas is supposed to be a higher density material. Some white colored stuff claims to be gas approved. Im not sure who confirms that?
There is an ANSI standard for tapes., shown on this brand
Then there is the thicker tape like Mil Rose
This is both higher density, thicker and yellow colored which seem to be an industry standard color for fuel gas pipingBob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream1 -
I think its ridiculous, but every artist 🎨 has their touch...that's his....Not hurting any one or anything. Mad Dog 🐕0
-
-
He doesn't use a lot of tape or wick so it doesn't look as bad as you'd think. Mad Dog 🐕
0 -
I've never heard of any kind of thread sealant (approved for gas, water, etc. or not approved) not working or deteriorating over time and leaking. You'd think it would get a lot of press.
Maybe even peanut butter would work; chunky or smooth.8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour
Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab2 -
Blue Monster (blue tape) in their video says that it can be use on Nat gas, however, I don't see that on their written literature of what it can be used for. Maybe the container says so? Building Inspectors expect to see yellow tape and using yellow tape saves an explanation.0
-
You could buy and download ANSI LC7 and see specifically what that standard and listing is about. It appears on that MilRose tape.
I suspect like most everything it will depend on the inspector of the day. Of if a locale specifically forbids it.
Here is a NC fire Marshall opinion.
https://www.ncosfm.gov/fuel-gas/40393-thread-compounds-and-ptfe-tape/openBob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream1 -
You could also look at what spec the fuel gas code requires.0
-
Gas teflon (yellow) is much more dense.
Mill Rose 3 Wrap Yellow
Composition: 99.0% PTFE 1.0% Pigment
Color: Yellow
Thickness: 0.004" +/-10%
Density: 1.5g/cm3 +/-10%
Mill Rose Blue Monster
Composition 99.6% PTFE 0.4% Pigment
Color: Blue
Thickness 0.0035" +/- 10%
Density 0.8g/cm3
Less than 1.0 specific gravity will float in water
Blue monster is really just average/standard PTFE tape. But they are consistent.
White 100% ptfe tape with good density is "better."
See Merco PTFE tape M55 and M77 full density. Most guys who use this never go back to blue monster.
Blue is just a pigment, no benefit to sealing/lubricating whatsoever.
1 -
As my lawyer Bro says, "Anything not prohibited is allowed."0
-
I like that blue monster comes in like a 1000' roll. I don't want a 10 pack of rolls with like 6' on each roll.0
-
I've been using this at work a lot.
It's much thicker and.... Harder? If that makes any sense than blue monster.
But it's white.
Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment0 -
because it is!ChrisJ said:I've been using this at work a lot.
It's much thicker and.... Harder? If that makes any sense than blue monster.
But it's white.
3.2-3.8mil
1.2-1.55 g/cm3
white because it's 100% ptfe
spec and sticker is nearly identical to the Merco. I'm guessing the same manufacturer
1 -
When I was a lab assistant in a chemical lad , I visited the Dupont research lab in Delaware with my boss . We visited with a researh directo and he showed us a material that they just accidentially discovered while looking for something else. They named if TEFLON and thought maybe it could be use to seal threads on pipe as wel as other thngs.2
-
I've never noticed the pressure limitation before. So only downstream of LP first stage regsdko said:
because it is!ChrisJ said:I've been using this at work a lot.
It's much thicker and.... Harder? If that makes any sense than blue monster.
But it's white.
3.2-3.8mil
1.2-1.55 g/cm3
white because it's 100% ptfe
spec and sticker is nearly identical to the Merco. I'm guessing the same manufacturerBob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream0 -
I notice one has a US flag on it but does not say made in the usa.0
-
Gorton doesn't say made in the USA either, but this stuff appears to be unless they are lying on their data sheet:
https://tds.mercotape.com/Merco/TDS/TDS Merco Threadmaster(R) PTFE Tapes.pdf1 pipe Peerless 63-03L in Cedar Grove, NJ, coal > oil > NG0 -
Interesting the label limits to pipe less that 1.5”.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 84.3K THE MAIN WALL
- 3K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 53 Biomass
- 417 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 44 Chimneys & Flues
- 1.8K Domestic Hot Water
- 4.8K Gas Heating
- 120 Geothermal
- 156 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3K Oil Heating
- 57 Pipe Deterioration
- 799 Plumbing
- 5.5K Radiant Heating
- 371 Solar
- 14.1K Strictly Steam
- 3.1K Thermostats and Controls
- 54 Water Quality
- 39 Industry Classes
- 80 Job Opportunities
- 22 Recall Announcements