HALL of SHAME PHOTo`s

[R1CKY]

Belt & skyhooks, more like.

Exactly! You may as well be wrapping your neighbour's car in PTFE, it'll have the same influence in stopping a leak on a compression fitting as wrapping the threads......bugger all!! The olive being crushed against the fitting causes a seal, all the thread does is allow the nut to wind down it and compress the olive! Wrapping PTFE around it can actually split a brass nut!

 

[Barry98]

Exactly! You may as well be wrapping your neighbour's car in PTFE, it'll have the same influence in stopping a leak on a compression fitting as wrapping the threads......bugger all!! The olive being crushed against the fitting causes a seal, all the thread does is allow the nut to wind down it and compress the olive! Wrapping PTFE around it can actually split a brass nut!

A small piece of pt f&e on the olive will hold it in place though if upside down or in a hard to get to place

 

[Keefy]

I never use PTFE on compression fittings, there's simply no need. When I come across a job with tape round all the fittings I instantly think, must have been a builder, maybe a kitchen fitter? Definitely not a plumber.

 

[plum ber]

A small piece of pt f&e on the olive will hold it in place though if upside down or in a hard to get to place

So would a smear of LSX, they teach us all not to use ptfe but then when training centres have used fittings countless times you are forced to use/do this way, IMO there is nothing wrong with it. It is a bit of an art getting it round the thread without it being visable but then I don't use two miles of it per thread...

When I do it this way I find leaks a rare thing, I do get the odd dripper but it is usually not nipped up enough and a quarter turn stops it. This is just the way my boss want's it done and as he pays most of my wages then that's the way it get's done! simples

 

[Koogatubac]

So would a smear of LSX, they teach us all not to use ptfe but then when training centres have used fittings countless times you are forced to use/do this way, IMO there is nothing wrong with it. It is a bit of an art getting it round the thread without it being visable but then I don't use two miles of it per thread...

When I do it this way I find leaks a rare thing, I do get the odd dripper but it is usually not nipped up enough and a quarter turn stops it. This is just the way my boss want's it done and as he pays most of my wages then that's the way it get's done! simples

Sorry but your boss doesnt understand the absolute BASICS of sealing a pipe... Quite worrying really... Dont use PTFE! Just smear some paste on the olive, i use jet blue plus and 99% it NEVER leaks!! PTFE on compression knuckles, straights, tees is in my eyes cowboyish! And the people who do it need to get back to day1 and start their training all over again... Thats if they got any training!

 

[Dannypipe]

As said, PTFE on the thread of a compression joint is a hindrance not a help. I repeat not a help....at all, in any way. Not belt and braces. Just wrong.

The seal is made on the olive and the beveled edge of the union it is compressed against. A smear of jet blue/boss white on the olive can help and is something I do, though many don't.

 

[AlexGas]

You are replacing TRVs, cut the old olive – the pipe is a bit compressed by the olive. Would you use the PTFE then at all?

 

[Koogatubac]

I admit in my apprenticeship my gaffer told me to use ptfe on olives until i went working with council where i was introduced to the best leak holder ever

JET BLUE PLUS!!!!!!

After then my life changed and i became a god :|

 

[stevetheplumber]

You are replacing TRVs, cut the old olive – the pipe is a bit compressed by the olive. Would you use the PTFE then at all?

no i never put ptfe on any compression fitting youll find the olive will bite back into the groove if it doesnt then the pipe needs cutting back and replacing
im always amazed at how otherwise good plumber cant see which parts are making the seal on a joint ive seen ptfe around unionsptfe is for filling the gap in threads on threaded joints like male or female iron it can be used to make a seal where its compressed betweem to surface if there is a way to hold it in position as on a tap con or trap to waste connection

 

[stevetheplumber]

We use those also.....They are very very handy!!!

nothing earns money like a good pair of sky hooks

 

[SafeGasInstall]

You are replacing TRVs, cut the old olive – the pipe is a bit compressed by the olive. Would you use the PTFE then at all?

i always do on a old pipes , new pipe work to compression NO

 

[Best]

You are replacing TRVs, cut the old olive – the pipe is a bit compressed by the olive. Would you use the PTFE then at all?

If I had a heavier olive, I would use it on a pipe that is squeezed in too much by previous olive.

 

[Dannypipe]

You are replacing TRVs, cut the old olive – the pipe is a bit compressed by the olive. Would you use the PTFE then at all?

As Steve said it really needs to be cut back if it's damaged pipe, but in honesty I might consider PTFE around the olive in this instance, and only this instance.

However we are getting away from my point and I quote:

PTFE on the thread of a compression joint is a hindrance not a help. On the thread of the compression joint.​

 

[R1CKY]

A small piece of pt f&e on the olive will hold it in place though if upside down or in a hard to get to place

A wrap around the olive is fine, as that actually helps form a seal, but the amount of fittings I've taken apart and seen PTFE on the thread only is comical!

 

[Best]

I see a lot of plumbers (yes, plumbers!) use ptfe on oil hose nipples threads where the hose connects! Says a lot about their knowledge.

 

[Dannypipe]

Yeah, pretty clear that you don't need anything by the end of the hose.

 

[DirksPlumbing]

I see a lot of plumbers (yes, plumbers!) use ptfe on oil hose nipples threads where the hose connects! Says a lot about their knowledge.

Usually helps it leaking greatly. And if that is not enough you will find the PTFE in the pump and everywhere it could cause random faults.
I am amazed everytime again how good the oil searches through the layers of the wrapped PTFE tape.

 

[Kyle87]

Did you know the ancient Egyptians had piped water, if their plumbers were like these ptfe-aholics it explains the mummys!!

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

seen a cross threaded thermocouple bulked out with ptfe at the gasvalve end today i kid you not

 

[neily01]

[/quote]must have missed the section on curtain wire and duct tape being acceptable fixing methods

 

[neily01]

first time putting pictures up. didnt quite get that right! love the way the curtain wire is tied around a velux window handle.

 

[chris watkins]

first time putting pictures up. didnt quite get that right! love the way the curtain wire is tied around a velux window handle.

Well otherwise the window will fall out, I guess ???? Builder A, I don't know !!!

 

[neily01]

builders job refurbing whole house. know the plumber who started the job but walked away refusing to install boiler the way they wanted. never found out who finished job, just got job of putting it right!

 

[chris watkins]

builders job refurbing whole house. know the plumber who started the job but walked away refusing to install boiler the way they wanted. never found out who finished job, just got job of putting it right!

That story is becoming a daily one I fear neily01.

 

[stevetheplumber]

even when doing barrel work you need to wipe any cutting oil of the threads or it buggers the ptfe one reason i prefer hemp