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thread sealant

dave_18
dave_18 Member Posts: 9
in THE MAIN WALL
What type of pipe thread sealant do you guys recommend when joining 2 threaded pipes together? This is for a hot water CI radiator system. Teflon tape? White teflon paste? I've used some yellow colored paste in previous applications that someone recommended to me but these joints have all developed very slow drips after about 4 months of service.

Comments

  • Wild Bill
    Wild Bill Member Posts: 111
    Pipe dope

    Dave,
    I have never had a problem with Rectorseal Number 5. I hear good things about Megalock as well, but I have never tried it. I usually combine the pipe dope with 3 turns of teflon on the bottom 3 threads....no leakers to date.
    Bill H.
  • John Starcher_4
    John Starcher_4 Member Posts: 794
    Me too.....

    ....if the joint's "quality" (nasty looking threads, etc.)is at all suspect, a few wraps of teflon tape, then Megalock sealant. Have had no problems. The Megalock is what the local wholesaler stocks, so that's what we've been using. It seems to work very well.

    Starch
  • Jaitch
    Jaitch Member Posts: 68
    I wouldn't have believed it but.......

    YES!

    What a concept! Any good quality pipe dope laid over a little teflon tape and, voila! No leaks to date!

    Try to wrap the tape the "right way", though........
  • wlagun
    wlagun Member Posts: 1
    megaloc

    megalock, teflon never had a leak yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great stuff.
  • Wild Bill
    Wild Bill Member Posts: 111
    What a concept!!!!!!!!!! why the sarcasm

    Why say any more
  • Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes
    Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes Member Posts: 1,243
    Anaerobic

    thread sealant: Super Dope. I've never seen anything like it; it will seal the most bunged-up threads, even non-tapered threads will seal with this stuff. No need for the Viessmann horsehair for good make-up.

    I once installed a Flushometer valve on a 110 psi line; hand tight and no leaks.

    http://www.argco.com/cgi-bin/item/1010087.html?id=Cz8anptK

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    PERMATEX

    permatex,permatex, permatex. if thread is ancient or iffy ---a little lampwick then PERMATEX. P.S. DO NOT FORGET TO MAKE UP WITH PROPER SIZE PIPE WRENCHES
  • Ken_8
    Ken_8 Member Posts: 1,640
    You back from school already?

    Did Holohan teach you anything?

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    Industrial Blue Magic

    with a coupe wraps of teflon done deal. Out side Permatex aircraft Yah thats it! :)
  • S Ebels
    S Ebels Member Posts: 2,322
    OK......What about

    The only threads we've had consistent sealing problems with are plastic to metal. Example: We just lashed up (thanks Weezbo) a pool heating circuit to a stainless steel H/X, female threads on the H/X with male threads on the 1 1/2" PVC fittings going into the H/X. Turned everything on, no leaks. A week later the PVC threads are dripping at a very steady rate. My guy used 3-4 wraps of teflon with a smear of Whitlams over top of that. Went back yesterday, cut the fittings out and redid with Leak Lock. We'll see what happens.

    What do you guys use for plastic to metal threads? Anything different than metal to metal?
  • Doug Wagoner
    Doug Wagoner Member Posts: 78
    I had the same problem years ago and took it to my

    Dad. His solution: never screw metal into a plastic female adapter. Do the opposite. Screw the plastic male adapter into metal female threads even if you have to use a coupling. I have not had leaks since that time with metal to plastic transitions.
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    this is one of my favorites:)

    this is what i say....It is designed to leak, somewhere:) so with that in mind i go this rout take a union red brass thread a nipple into it thenput somehand tightenergy into the equasion .(i prefer blue goo used in the auto motive trade if i have a day, if not, i will go with teflon and blue magic ) tighten it with a wrench so it then seems snug.) leave the uninon a little loose so it will leak a drop or two.once i pressure it up i take two wrenches and snug it till it quits leaking. that definitely works for me. gone are the days of a leak you didnt plan andthe place it will want to leak is the union :) a twist of two wrenches done deal:)
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928
    Plastic Male Adapters

    Are notorious for snapping off at the base of the threads--particularly underground...
  • Mike Kraft_2
    Mike Kraft_2 Member Posts: 398
    THIS IS THE STUFF!!!!

    I aint lying:)

    http://www.xpando.com/

    Wheels hooked me up with this stuff.

    cheese
  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    Try......

    lots of teflon tape lubricated with liquid dishwashing soap up to 10 or 12 wraps on 3" and larger fittings usually 5 to 8 up to 2".Sounds ridiculous works like a charm.

    John
  • Mitch_4
    Mitch_4 Member Posts: 955
    Oh Yeah!

    I used this when I did a stint as a sprinklerfitter. Claims to "harden to pipe burst strength". pressure test everything in that trade to 200PSI. always holds. But bring the BIG wrench if you need to undo. it gets HARD!
  • Dale
    Dale Member Posts: 1,317
    Plastic to metal seals, hot water

    Genoa the cpvc maker has fittings for this application. If you try to go with a straight adapter on a hot water application it will leak because of the thermal expansion differences. The adapter has flat gaskets that take the strain.
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