Search the forum,

ptfe alternative??? ______________

Discuss ptfe alternative??? ______________ in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

L

Loubanez

Messages
61
Hi all,
Ive fit a cast iron radiator in my living room, at the flow and return there are two 11/4 to 1/2 reducing bushes, they're both dripping when the system is filled, I've wrapped the threads with a liberal amount of ptfe but to no avail, is they're anything else I could use?
It's becoming a real pain in the a***.
Cheers.
 
https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/flomasta-ptfe-liquid-n-a/5321j

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/flomasta-pipe-sealing-cord-80m/2272v
 
You want about 15 turns or more of PTFE on half inch thread, and make sure you wrap it clockwise. Hemp and paste (Boss white/Hawk white (or other Boss/Hawk if you can't get the previous) is better though, as is Loctite 55, as has been stated above.

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/select-products-hemp-pipe-thread-packer-sealer-80g/9321k

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/fernox-hawk-white-jointing-compound-400g/69694

Look up how to use it on youtube. You need to tease out a few fibres and wrap them thinly and paste over them. Do not paste before you apply the hemp and always apply in a clockwise direction.
 
Last edited:
Ptfe will seal the 1 1/4” threads but you will need a lot of wraps. And I would vouch for Boss White paste also.
 
Ric2013 said:
You want about 15 turns or more of PTFE on half inch thread, and make sure you wrap it clockwise. Hemp and paste (Boss white/Hawk white (or other Boss/Hawk if you can't get the previous) is better though, as is Loctite 55, as has been stated above.

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/select-products-hemp-pipe-thread-packer-sealer-80g/9321k

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/fernox-hawk-white-jointing-compound-400g/69694

Look up how to use it on youtube. You need to tease out a few fibres and wrap them thinly and paste over them. Do not paste before you apply the hemp and always apply in a clockwise direction.
Click to expand...

might be me but i paste first then apply the hemp and put a tiny bit of paste on the join / end of the emp to stop it undoing
 
Hemp and paste is old school, but so are cast-iron rads. So it matches.

Shaun. I was always taught never to paste the thread because 'the water needs to get to the hemp to expand it'; when you think about it, this explanation doesn't make much sense. I did what I was told anyway and it seemed to work. Will have to try your way again and see what I prefer, but my feeling is it is hard to see how much hemp I have put in the threads if they are already smeared.

But even before I was trained and I was putting in a woodburning backboiler, I made it up as I went along and probably pasted before and after and ... no leaks. What can I say?: it's good stuff!
 
Long time since I have used flax (hemp). It is just so old school nowadays and not for a trendy young modern plumber like myself. :)
Sometimes I would have put Boss White on a strand of flax before I put it on threads.
 
Best said:
Long time since I have used flax (hemp). It is just so old school nowadays and not for a trendy young modern plumber like myself. :)
Sometimes I would have put Boss White on a strand of flax before I put it on threads.
Click to expand...
LoL trendy young modern plumber indeed ha ha ha.....worked with a young Irish boy back in the eighties and he was the only one out of seventy plumbers on a site who stopped a leak on a tank with boss white and hemp and I still remember him saying that the guy who taught him had an expression about make sure you have boss white and hemp in your pocket even if you are going dancing on a Saturday night as you don't know when it might come in handy....Lol..regards Turnpin:)
 
Flax, or hemp? They are completely separate plants.

In Victorian Britain, it was essentially illegal not to grow hemp (cannabis sativa) as its fibre was considered to be the best for rope for the country's navies. Genuine canvas was traditionally made from hemp (canvas | Origin and meaning of canvas by Online Etymology Dictionary) which means I always cringe slightly when I see the words '100% cotton canvas' :)

While the proporties of the fibres would appear to be similar, we shouldn't be referring to flax as hemp if it isn't. I'm now intrigued!
 
Thanks for all the comments and recommednations, I went with the flomasta pipe sealing cord in the end as i couldn't get my hands on any hemp till Monday.
I think it's similar or the same as the loctite stuff, anyway worked brilliantly, needed some on the bleed valve aswell which worked well,
Thanks again.
 
20 turns of PTFE standard with abit of paste also for good measure...especially on cheap 'designer' radiators.

Isit just down this way but No1 stocks hemp thesedays.
 
Ric2013 said:
Flax, or hemp? They are completely separate plants.

In Victorian Britain, it was essentially illegal not to grow hemp (cannabis sativa) as its fibre was considered to be the best for rope for the country's navies. Genuine canvas was traditionally made from hemp (canvas | Origin and meaning of canvas by Online Etymology Dictionary) which means I always cringe slightly when I see the words '100% cotton canvas' :)

While the proporties of the fibres would appear to be similar, we shouldn't be referring to flax as hemp if it isn't. I'm now intrigued!
Click to expand...
https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/selec...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNXG6tvc-dwCFc0R0wodjD4KNg
 

Reply to ptfe alternative??? ______________ in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Similar plumbing topics

K
Leaking toilet inlet - More ptfe or Joint compound?
Ive fitted a new bottom entry fill valve to our en-suite toilet but i cant stop the dribble/leak from the inlet connection. Ive added a fair bit of ptfe but its still leaking, tightened it to its maximum etc and still im getting a dribble. Do you think i need more ptfe, add some joint compound...
Replies
7
Views
4K
Roy_66
Roy_66
M
Changing radiator and pipework - checking the steps
Hello I want to replace the old single panel rad in the bedroom with a K2 double panel Stelrad one. I think I'm OK in general and relatively sensible (!) but I just want to check the steps involved to make sure I'm not missing anything before starting. System info- Steps (I think)- 1. Turn...
Replies
3
Views
901
Timmy D
T
C
Cast Iron Radiator Pressure Problems
Hello, I am hoping to gain some advice following encountering several issues which I'm struggling to determine the magnitude of in my central heating system. I had 8 new cast iron radiators installed in December and since then my Vokera 28 Compact boiler has been dropping pressure on a regular...
Replies
7
Views
4K
siricosm
siricosm
D
Internally shallower 3/4" Iron fitting needed, and weep on 3/4 female nut on main.
I wonder if anyone can help, I've tried several plumbers merchants to no avail. I have removed an old stopcock, (which seized long ago, with a newer stopcock just above) as it had been leaking from several places, mainly at the bottom where it joined the 3/4" threaded female end on rising main...
Replies
3
Views
2K
exedon2
exedon2
C
Limited options for adding a boss to 90mm cast iron stack
Hello, I have the exact same issue as this chap had 4 years ago, however I am unable to post on that thread and no solution was ever arrived at (Cast Iron Boss for 40mm waste - https://www.plumbersforums.net/threads/cast-iron-boss-for-40mm-waste.89358/). I have already read a lot of threads on...
Replies
10
Views
4K
c.raab
C
Creating content since 2001. Untold Media.

Newest Plumbing Threads

Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock