Temp Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 I've used PTFE tape a lot in the past but don't find it very good for those joints where you need it to tighten with a fitting pointing in a particular direction and or up against tiles. Things like ceiling rose or hose outlets, body jets, some towel rails etc I've seen a YouTube vid where someone said sealing thread or cord was better for this. I don't think they were talking about hessian cord. Google finds.. Flomast Pipe Sealing Cord https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-pipe-sealing-cord-80m/2272v Locktite 55 Pipe Sealing Cord https://www.bes.co.uk/loctite-55-pipe-sealing-cord-160m-12555/ Has anyone used this sort of thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted January 8, 2023 Author Share Posted January 8, 2023 Just found.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 T5 RectorSeal… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Screwfix do a liquid PTFE, quite easy to use and seem so far to water tight joints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 (edited) 18 hours ago, Temp said: I've used PTFE tape a lot in the past but don't find it very good for those joints where you need it to tighten with a fitting pointing in a particular direction and or up against tiles. Things like ceiling rose or hose outlets, body jets, some towel rails etc I've seen a YouTube vid where someone said sealing thread or cord was better for this. I don't think they were talking about hessian cord. Google finds.. Flomast Pipe Sealing Cord https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-pipe-sealing-cord-80m/2272v Locktite 55 Pipe Sealing Cord https://www.bes.co.uk/loctite-55-pipe-sealing-cord-160m-12555/ Has anyone used this sort of thing? Conversely, I find PTFE better for this 'stop when it points to 12 o'clock' situation. I turn the fitting in dry, counting the number of turns until it stops ( in the wrong place ). I then turn it back out and count the number of revolutions again to be sure. I PTFE the thread, with around 21 turns, and then count the revolutions when going back in, knowing which one is the last full revolution before it goes past and bottoms out. Served me well to this day, and I'll carry on doing this for the next ones. Edited January 9, 2023 by Nickfromwales 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Ambrose Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 >>> I PTFE the thread, with around 21 turns Sorry I don't understand - 21 turns of PTFE on the thread? Max I've ever done was about 5 or 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 I watch a guy in a ship yard, and he used a full roll on a 2" tapered fitting. Didn't seal and he then used another roll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 2 hours ago, Nickfromwales said: around 21 turns, I found that I need about 8 turns in the UK (all that will usually fit) but 25 to 30 turns with Spanish fittings, because they appear to be variously imperial (surprisingly) and metric, and rather approximate. I wonder if ptfe tape comes in different thicknesses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorfun Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 I bought the Loctite 55 and have used it to put my water manifolds together. can't give any indication as to how good it is as they're not plumbed in or been tested yet! but it was easy to use. 😂 I also seem to struggle with PTFE, I think mostly because I'm not as methodical as @Nickfromwales and just slap it on and turn until I can't turn any more and then realise that it's not vertical and have to undo it a bit and then it leaks and then I have to do it again and mess up in the same way. whoever thought it was a good idea for me to do my own plumbing was an idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 And Worked the best for me on threaded fittings. Scrape the thread with hacksaw roughen it. Wind on appropriate amount of hemp. Butter on jointing compound and tighten. You tube told me PTFE was just a lubricant for tapered threads. 🤷♂️ Then again youtube regularly gives me advice that would see me dead and bankrupt in days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miek Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 I go 12 turns. Or use LS-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 36 minutes ago, Miek said: Or use LS-X the weapon of last resort .. or a go to for every British Gas engineer ..! 🤣 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 2 hours ago, saveasteading said: I wonder if ptfe tape comes in different thicknesses? The gas version is a lot thicker than the water type, but I've never measured them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 1 hour ago, Miek said: I go 12 turns. Or use LS-X Basically clear silicone, the last hope for a wonky plumber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miek Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 29 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Basically clear silicone, the last hope for a wonky plumber. Probably the most expensive silicone available, but it does work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 1 hour ago, Miek said: Probably the most expensive silicone available, but it does work. Can’t trust anything anyone from Carmarthen says, sorry. 🤥😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miek Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 19 hours ago, Nickfromwales said: Can’t trust anything anyone from Carmarthen says, sorry. 🤥😂 I know what you mean, I barely trust myself ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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