Pipe Dope

Paul_28

Which is the best method for sealing pipe threads? Pipe dope or teflon tape?

Boilerpro_3

Always a good topic

My favorite has been Rectorseal, and when the threads are real bad combine it with a couple wraps of heavy teflon tape.

Anyone else ever notice that Rectorseal is supposed to be placed on both male and feamle threads on anything larger than 1 inch?

Boilerpro

clammy

also known

also known as buttering the biscuit (doing male and female threads ) i've allways had good luck with a couple of wraps of telfon work it into the threads and lattly blue magic have been using it for 2 or more years and hardly a leak on domestic water and hot water boiler work copper and steel and brass for steam if i'm not being lazy lampwick and grip or grip lite but it 's hard on the hands while that blue magic sets semi hard but washes off with soap water and elbow grease peace clammy

lchmb

same here

couple wrap's with tape and then some blue magic on the third through sixth thread's and never a leak.

bob young

permatex = positive

Ted_9

RectorSeal, Rectrseal T, with teflon tape on all water and Prodope for any especially gas.

The soft set blue stuff is good too.


Patriot Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Robert O'Connor_5

Remember?

Expando in the red tins, now that was some good dope for steam...Robert O'Connor/NJ

tommyoil

100% no fail method

I have been using a product called Leak-Loc. That, along with with several wraps of appropriate width teflon, has given me full success on every steam fitting for 100% no leak up to 5" diameter pipe. When using it on 4'' and 5" I cut the top off the can and use a paint brush to apply it w/ wraps of teflon. I ALWAYS use both when dealing w/ steam. When going from new work to old I add an extra swipe of Leak-loc on top of the teflon as well. I have also used a product called Expando on occasion. This stuff you can use w/ no teflon as it will never leak,EVER. The pipe will rot first B4 this stuff fails. The only set back w/ the expando is you have to mix it up by the batch. Sort of a pain in the butt. Plus if you EVER have to get the fitting back apart you can forget it. If it wasnt such a hassle to use I'd probably use it all the time. Either way, if its positive no leak your looking for both of these methods have served me with great success 100% of the time.

hr

If money is not an object

The anarobics (sp)are hard to beat. Leak Lock in the blue tube, or several of the Locktite products in the same family.

Mechanics swear by Leak Lock for the problematic brass to aluminum connection on automatic truck tranmissions.

Ordinary everday plumbing works with some teflon tape (buy the good stuff) and a dab of teflon paste to lube the whole thing.

Some shrug at teflon tape on gas lines as it may get into the gas valve screens. I've never had this happen, but over tapping could be a reason.

All pipe dopes work if the threads are cut clean and to spec. It's more of a personal preference. Rectorseal #5 is a classic. That smell is better than any deodorant I also like the creamy Harveys brand teflon dope.

Becareful with plastic and PVCs not all dopes work with it!

hot rod

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Unknown

Yes , good ol' Leak-Loc

A coworker of mine used to use it all the time - like you said , never had a leak . He did manage to smear it all over his clothes , which becomes permanent also . Sorta looked like a cross between Bigfoot and Geronimo .

One reason we stopped using Leak Loc is the joint becomes permanent when cured - I bent more 1 inch nipples sealed with that stuff than I care to remember .

We love using Rectorseal # 5 - the mustard . That with Teflon is the trick for us up to 2 inch or so . We had lots of leaks on a few steamers with 4 inch mains when we used Teflon and Rectorseal . We used straight Rectorseal the next big steamer , and had a few more leaks . That Expando sounds like a good sealant to try for the next big job , where do you get it Tommy ?

tommyoil

Heres where

Expando should be available to you in any decent industrial supply house. Plbg. supplies usually have no idea what I'm talking about. But be warned 1) its a little bit of a P.I.T.A to use as you can only mix it in small batches and use it in a certain time frame and 2) It aint EVER coming back apart so you gotta get your fittings turned in and set the first time. With leak-loc I have actually backed out on fittings and it makes up for even those sins. I'm telling you, as much as you may dislike it, leak-loc is the way to go. Everything I've ever done with that stuff in the way I described, has given me 100% NO LEAK fittings every single time. Try it on your bigger stuff and see. You'll never look back. I'd rather look like Geronimo/Bigfoot than Gene Kelly In "Singin' In The Rain". The stuff works. I swear.If you cant find expando, I'll get it and ship it out to you right away...free of charge of course.Let me know.

ernie_3

really?

I've used leak-Lok on all threaded A/C fttgs. Never thought about using it on heating pipe threads. Anything 4" and over gets Expando in Ma, available @ Jomar Supply.

ScottMP

\" The mustard \"

I like that Ron.

Rectorseal # 5,

" Alitte bit of teflon on my threads, a little bit of pipe dope puts it to bed. "

heatboy

Locktite 565

By far, best stuff I have used to date. And I have used them all. I'm still amazed how easy this stuff is to work with and never had a leak using it. Costs substantially more than everything else. Cleans up easily. One of the many things that drives me crazy is seeing any type of sealent on the threads that aren't being used. CRAZY. If you can see it, it isn't doing much good. It just looks unprofessional, to me.

hb

Ranger

X-Pand-Ooooooo

Good stuff.RectorSeal,Leak Lock all good with Teflon tape.I like Grip too except I find it messy and it take's 3-5 days to ware off your skin.On the opposite end (takeing stuff apart) my aviation friends turned me on to this stuff called Kroil.More good stuff!!

Ken_8

This is what I wrote 4 years ago...

Dan was kind enough to put in the archives. It may need a few tweaks to be current, but the basics are all there.

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=102

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Don Walsh

Just to be a bit of a wise guy here.........It was Gene Kelly and Donald O'Conner that were is "Singing in the Rain. Ole Fred was off have a tryst with Ginger.

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tommyoil

Duh !!!

Not a wise guy...a wise man. I stand corrected(again).

tommyoil

the best for taking apart

KROIL IS KING !!!!! Try finding it though. This stuff is unbelieveable when you need to get seized stuff apart. I also recommend it highly(if you can find it).The downfall is it really STINKS bad.Bring a clothespin for your nose. Not great but still good is stuff called Pipebreak. Little easier to find.

Boilerpro_3

My installs must drive you CRAZY!

Pipe dope everywhere, but I do try to do some clean up though! I agree though, sure looks better clean.

Boilerpro

Unknown

Thanks for the offer Tommy

I'm going to start checking the supply houses for it . I don't think we have any big jobs on the radar , but I just might take you up on that if I can't find it . I wouldn't feel right without paying you for it though , at least the shipping .

I remember years back an oil contractor we worked for insisted we use his sealant on his boiler job - it had to be mixed like Expando , probably was it too . Geronimo - Bigfoot was really Chris , and like everything else that's different , he loved this stuff . He would have spread it on his toast if there was enough .

tommyoil

will trade for a beer

Anytime...let me know. The stuff has infinite shelf life provided its kept dry. If I knew where to send it, it would be on the way already. Keep me posted.

Joe_51

I question within a thread...

Great info for a DIY'er how just started piping my system. I'm using the Rectoseal #5 with a wrap and a half of teflon tape(width of tape covers about3 threads I guess) My question is how tight should I be tightening the black pipe?????

Ranger

Ya man,good stuff Tommyoil...

...my aviation friends (A & P mechanics) hook me up with the stuff.You can find it on line also (google Kroil).