What is the professional "PTFE"

padstar · 16 Jan 2022

I had installed all the radiator valves before the plumber arrived thinking I had done him a favour as he was a friend of a friend. When he saw it I got the comment that won't be good enough. That stuffs 20p a roll the real stuff is £20 a roll. Thought nothing of it and let him do his thing. I have now seen what has been used on the shower valves and can see what he is talking about. It's almost like a cloth in wax and clearly more substantial than my screwfix tape!

I have a few joints to do and want some of that gear for it. Can someone point me in the right direction.

Is it something like this <LINK>

magicmushroom666 · 16 Jan 2022

Might be Loctite 55.

Where cost is not a problem at work, I use Loctite 577 for tapered threads, however for DIY stuff at home PTFE has served me just fine.

BlueLoo · 16 Jan 2022

Not an easy question to answer correctly because you have to consider a lot of variables.

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/weeping-compression-fittings.584064/

One of them being that you need to be able to undo stuff sometimes....

ianmcd · 16 Jan 2022

PTFE stands for Polytetrafluoroethylene it is simply the chemical name for the tape that is known as PTFE, ask ten plumbers what their favourite jointing tape, paste, hemp, liquid is and you will get ten different answers, we all have our own preferances, mine is PTFE tape my mate only uses liquid PTFE, its just what you trust , no right and wrong, just what you feel comfortable with

oldbutnotdead · 16 Jan 2022

The modern style rad tails (with a 15mm stub for a compression fitting) take loads of PTFE to seal into the rad- minimum 6 turns, if it still feels baggy then put more on.
Used Loctite 55 as well, it is much quicker. Don't think it was £20....

CBW · 16 Jan 2022

Can’t say I’ve had many issues with cheap ptfe (what’s provided to me), a lot seem to rave about Loctite 55.

Madrab · 16 Jan 2022

2 types of tape, water and gas, gas is at least twice as thick. I only use gas tape because I use it for gas anyway, no point in buying 2 different types. It's the difference between 6 turns for tails as against 10-15 for the thinner water tape.

Then yes, there LACO compound which is a thick paste or liquid PTFE (threadlocker) or L55 cord/thread, as suggested it really is each to their own preference. They all do the same job.

Never seen stuff that costs £20 nor would I waste my money on it if I did TBH.

ianmcd · 16 Jan 2022

Madrab said:
Then yes, there LACO compound which is a thick paste or liquid PTFE (threadlocker) or L55 cord/thread, as suggested it really is each to their own preference. They all do the same job.

Is it still compulsary for apprentices to have a right leg top part of their trousers caked in boss white ?

CBW · 16 Jan 2022

ianmcd said:
Is it still compulsary for apprentices to have a right leg top part of their trousers caked in boss white ?

Mine wasn’t, but boss green (for potable water), plumbers mait, flux, silicone, and whatever else I needed off my hands

ianmcd · 16 Jan 2022

CBW said:
Mine wasn’t, but boss green (for potable water), plumbers mait, flux, silicone, and whatever else I needed off my hands

Poor mums all over the country despair trying to clean their lads trousers with stag white welded to them

Schrayder · 16 Jan 2022

577 for rad tails?

Madrab · 16 Jan 2022

ianmcd said:
Is it still compulsary for apprentices to have a right leg top part of their trousers caked in boss white ?

I think so, just like modern decorators and joiners that seem to have masses of silicone in the same place ... sign of the times I guess or level of workmanship maybe ....

ianmcd · 16 Jan 2022

CBW said:
plumbers mait, flux, silicone, and whatever else I needed off my hands

Thats what @jeff the gasman uses his other sock for , he is a mucky pup

ianmcd · 16 Jan 2022

Madrab said:
I think so, just like modern decorators and joiners that seem to have masses of silicone in the same place ... sign of the times I guess or level of workmanship maybe ....

When I was a lad I was the denso tape kid, if something needed densoing I was the go to, then spent the rest of the day with a rag wiping it from my hands, I am sure I could get benifits and a mobility car and a social worker these days for it

Deleted member 292770 · 16 Jan 2022

CBW said:
Mine wasn’t, but boss green (for potable water), plumbers mait, flux, silicone, and whatever else I needed off my hands

Ahem. Silicone should always end up in the t’shirt armpit. Nothing worse than smudging silicone over a new suite from your trouser leg.

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What is the professional "PTFE"

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