jhaag Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I used teflon tape to seal the pipe joints carrying compressed air from my compressor but I have a couple of leaks. A book about painting cars mentioned how great something called 'Gasoila' is for sealing. Has anyone ever heard of it or used it? Does anyone have a recommendation for a better sealant than teflon tape or should I just use more teflon tape than I did? I didn't think I was being overly frugal when I used it but perhaps I was. Thanks John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Magnum Rockwilder Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 What kind of pipe are you using? You can get LACO Seal-Tite or similar thread sealers at Lowe's, Home Depot, or other hardware stores. Teflon tape doesn't cut it. I NEVER use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 How big of a line are you running? I've used teflon tape a LOT on small fittings, and it works great... I get a few leaks sometimes, but can ussually fix it by tightening the fitting a bit. For biger stuf though, I ussualy use 'pipe dope' of some sort. Just make a mess/blob of it, and make sure to get some in all the threads. (a little brush is ussualy attached to the lid of the can) It's a bit messy, but I've never had a leak that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 240zJake Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Loctite makes a nice pipe sealer, I got a tube for free, works great. Teflon tape has always worked great for me too though, make sure you wrap it in the right directing, so tightning the threads doesnt pull the tape free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Teflon tape works perfectly well if applied correctly. 3-5 layers thick, cover first thread so it doesn't push back, and wrap in the right direction as stated above. Always use a high quality teflon tape not the el cheapo crap! Loctite makes some liquid PTFE pipe sealant though and it works well, it's just a little bit messy sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleMX Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Teflon tape works perfectly well if applied correctly. 3-5 layers thick' date=' cover first thread so it doesn't push back, and wrap in the right direction as stated above. Always use a high quality teflon tape not the el cheapo crap! Loctite makes some liquid PTFE pipe sealant though and it works well, it's just a little bit messy sometimes.[/quote'] I do this also, 3 or 4 wraps and it never leaks for me. If you dont like tape the liquid sealant is fool proof when applied as directed and never dries out. It also does not wash off you hands well so use latex gloves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjfawke Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I used to use teflon tape, then I switched to the Loctite non-hardening teflon pipe sealant. It's also the recommended one in the Carroll Smith "Prepare to Win" book... or was it his fasteners/plumbing book? One of the two, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Plumb the garage with copper pipe that way you can just solder the joints. Pipe dope is the same thing as the tape, just in a liquid form. I can't imagine one brand would be any more effective than another so might as well buy the cheap stuff in the plumbing aisle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerware Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 my shop we have pvc pipe that is just pvc glued together. We have a huge compressor and run up to 100 psi. Holds just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I just did my garage. I assembled a 10'x14' shed behind the garage where I have put the compressor. Before the slab was poured, I ran 3/4" 'black pipe' from the back wall of the garage, down 3 feet, across 3 feet, then up into the shed. I wrapped it with underground tape and epoxy (just as if it were a natural gas service line). Then, after it puched through the garage wall, I used copper 3/4" line with several union fittings and the rest soldered together. That way, if I need to, I can disassemble it. I plumbed in 2 'dump' valves so I could drain any condensation, and a master valve at the compressor so that the garage could be isolated. The sweated fittings, according to an expert, can handle upwards of 600 psi. I used a combination of teflon and pipe dope on all the threaded fittings. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 my shop we have pvc pipe that is just pvc glued together. We have a huge compressor and run up to 100 psi. Holds just fine. My garage was originally PVC pipe until I found out if you accidently hit it with somthing it will explode. Litterally. It shatters and throws razor sharp pieces of shrapnel everywhere. Do a little web research. It is dangerous and illegal to use PVC for compressed air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabeRoc Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 i worked in water treatment through high school and summers while in engineering school and i've found that for plumbing where the female end is metal a combination of Teflon tape and pipe dope works best. --gabe EDIT: PVC pipe + compressed air = accident waiting to happen. PVC pipe gets more brittle as it ages making it easier to crack when connecting and disconnecting hoses, not to mention the tugging and pulling. it will break and can be very dangerious when it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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