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Dope & tape?

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Comments

  • JMWHVAC
    JMWHVAC Member Posts: 110

    Too many leaks back when…. Both gives the best of both worlds.

  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,541
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1893336#Comment_1893336

    shower heads use both washer AND tape.

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 4,238

    If some is good, and more is better, then too much must be best.

  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,727

    In my world, tape and dope are the same. But some days, I feel like dope; others I feel like tape. And others, I feel like both.
    And on buggered up threads, I’ll dope the female side.
    There are even days that I fantasize about my work being judged. Those days I use dope as to me, it looks professional and until I drop my contractor’s license, I am a professional.

    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 slab
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,779

    I've givin' up on the yellow stuff for Megatape on just about everything. Megatape just feels good the way it goes on. Last week, I used Locktite on a Lochinvar indirect tank on the 1-1/2" stainless to copper in and out water supply. I learned my lesson. NO LEAKS. I did use Megatape and the blue dope on the heat exchanger to copper connections which cause me some concern on an earlier job. When everything got fired up, NO LEAKS. I did my happy dance.

    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
  • JMWHVAC
    JMWHVAC Member Posts: 110

    Just had an irritating leak. The MIPT connections on an NTI boiler are machined so smooth, and it’s hard to put tape on up under boiler. When turning on the fitting, the tape sometimes turns up the threads with the fitting. If you miss it…drip, drip. So takes something like Nylog first, then tape, then dope.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,190

    Belt and suspenders when you don't want a leak….which is all the time but especially in walls or inaccessible locations. I have done jobs with dope only. Teflon tape makes fitting go on smoother IMHO.

    I don't know when Teflon Tape started but I started in 73' and it was in use then.

    I can remember a huge job at Amherst College when I started, and we went there for some reason while it was being built.

    There was an apprentice sitting in the corner with crates full of black nipples…tons of them. His job was to sit there all day and put Teflon tape on all the nipples…. think I would have quit if I was him.

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,903
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1893324#Comment_1893324

    when I started it was always the older guys that said you need to use both, the younger guys always said they only use one. so it kind of surprises me that it was more common to use one and not both back in the day. for what its worth I have seen both connection styles leak, and both not leak. for what its worth we never deal with any import fittings.

    I am gonna take a wild stab and quote a previous reply on this same thread though to answer the question correctly

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1792643#Comment_1792643
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,727

    Tape was available when I started in 1980, but it was thin. Easy to snap off when you’re done winding, but you had to wrap it 10 times to get enough material on the threads. I found a place back east that offered a thicker mil tape and ordered it by the case.

    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 slab
  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,541

    I believe that improved dope came along in the eighties?

  • Robert_H
    Robert_H Member Posts: 307
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1792946#Comment_1792946

    My head hurts :)

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,390
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1893420#Comment_1893420

    I have no idea what that is but it sounds like it's laced with something.

    What's improved dope?

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,190

    What did you do yesterday?

    We talked about pipe dope all night.

    Maybe we should talk about a Hartford Loop or a Drop Header or something.

  • psb75
    psb75 Member Posts: 1,131

    How about…PONPC! That's good for a few pages itself. It has kept me up at night.

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,390
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1893469#Comment_1893469
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1893488#Comment_1893488

    Still far, far better than sitting watching reality tv….

    At least that's my honest opinion.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    Alan (California Radiant) ForbesPC7060
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 3,021

    Maybe it was thirty years or so ago when we started importing goods from other countries that didn't have the same thread tolerances and standards we had for decades, this brought forth different thread characteristics that, in turn brought on the leaks that we now have developed this habit of both dope and tape. Before then one or the other was used and rarely both. We still do not trust the threads to be proper from the factory(s).

  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,727

    Viessmann's Lambda Pro combustion system anyone?

    It uses an ionization probe to monitor flue gases, allowing the boiler to auto-calibrate for gas type, quality, and altitude, ensuring high efficiency (up to 98%) and low emissions without manual adjustments.

    How come others don't use it?

    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 slab
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,190

    @Intplm. very true. I noticed may 25 years ago that the tolerances on threaded fittings were not as good as they used to be. At least it seemed that way to me.

    Once in a while i would do some HP steam that was spec for schedule 80 pipe and 250 or 300# fittings and the quality and tolerances seemed much better.

    Intplm.

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