Hiya,

anyone had experience good or bad with the Teflon based pipe jointing compound?

Did a bit of a Google on this site with no luck.

Thinking of using it on the PVC pipe threads. I like the fact that it does not harden and previously have had really good results on steel steam piping.

It mentions non toxic,: contains Calcium carbonate, Hydrocarbon oils, Teflon, Titanium Dioxide and Clays.

So Reckon...

1. is it reef safe?

2. will nasty saltiness creep through?

So if you have tried it or have some comments I would be grateful for input.

Chrs

I use teflon tape on all my treaded joints. The only other option I know of is hemp, and thats too, messy and expensive, the plus side is being able to smoke the left overs.

Hi tee-em, Are you contemplating using Teflon thread tape, of the wrap around type or, as I suspect a Teflon based, liquid compound, and if so what brand.

Teflon based liquid type.

Oatey brand.

Hi tee-em, We use a similar product made by Loctite on all our cold threaded joints, for a particular oil company. This is because they are under the impression that thread taped joints allow bits of thread tape to enter the linework and get caught in the filters. We have not noticed this happening at all, and thread taped joints, especially on low pressure systems, in my humble opinion, are probably all you need, as long as you put the thread tape on in the right direction, lap the turns of tape by about 50%, and don't put too much or too little on the threads. Not sure about the Oatey brand or other brands of liquid thread sealer for that matter, as being safe to use, as you may get the hydrocarbon oils or other components leeching out and contaminating your water. Hemp is o.k. but more difficult to apply and is generally used in the trades on parrallel threads rather than tapered threads. So I guess its really your call, whatever you feel is the safest option.

Chrs for that..

probably thread tape the hard to reach plumbing then try some of the paste Teflon on some easy to reach/change/drip-doesn't-matter plumbing as a comparison. Point taken on the leeching so will go sparingly. Any way going to try some to find out.

when using thread tape put no more than 10 turns of tape around the thread. Usually 8 will do, what ever size of fittings you are using. any more and you may split the fitting open.

As for the tape getting into the filters and pumps, that will only happen if you allow the tape to cover the opening of the fitting so when you apply the tape just put it around the thread.

As for the thread sealing paste, when you use it only apply from the middle of the thread up. As you screw on the fitting so the paste will squeeze into the thread. Only use a tiny amount. If you get it on your clothes it will not come off.

dont bother wasting your money on the paste just use ceelon tape when putting on use a junior hacksaw to scratch the thread(drag the blade down the thread to roughen the thread) this helps so when you the screw the fitting on it wont wind the tape down the thread, when putting on tape always start at end of thread and work back, dont use hemp it seals a lot better than ceelon tape but cant be used on plastic when hemp gets wet it sweels up to stop the leak so with plastic fitting it crushes and cracks the fitting