Pipe Fitting Sealant

[Crofter]

Get yourself a box of 20 Mule Team Borax! Besides being good for soaking the smelly out of diapers, it makes an excellent flux for brazing. I like to use up all my stubs and even inherited some bare bronze rod. Just heat the rod end close to melting and dip into the borax and it sucks on a load of flux. It will prevent a lot of porosity and it is dirt cheap compared to a five pound box of bronze rod.

Teflon tape plus dope is golden. Especially so on stainless that has a tendency to gall the threads.

[LowGear]

GOSH!  That is pretty scary information.  I sure hope my brazen brazing doesn't go badl  I guess I can go back and reheat any bad joints.  This tank will have one of the $40 special pumps that we see all over biodiesel sites and I've decided to JB Weld the 3/4" by 1" sleeve into the pump.  And then go forward with the Gripp product.

Casey

PS:  I've heard about the double headed monster quite a few times.  The teflon tape plus dope approach.

[EBI-WPO]

In the 80's while doing boiler installs, I would use the tape/dope trick to make up additional length on manifolds. This was easier than cutting a piece 1/8" or 1/4" shorter and threading it. Therein lies the rub. It will allow you to insert more taper with very little effort. This CAN result in the dreaded "Pop" sound of a creacked fitting (all materials, although easier with PVC). This method works very well but beware of deep insertion and cracking fittings. So.... just be careful out there.

Terry

[mobile_bob]

well i happened upon a fresh stick of pipe sealant we use on everything
the one i referred to as looking like a kindergarden crayon or lumber crayon

it is marketed by ACE hardware and is #40968

cost a couple bucks iirc

supposed to be good for up to 2000psi, 350 degrees F, for metal pipe carrying
water, steam, air, ammonia, gasoline, natural gas, butane, propane, freon, and petroleum oils.
DO NOT USE ON OXYGEN SYSTEMS

we use it on everything that is pipe threaded, and it just works, there is enough in one stick to probably do hundreds of fittings
under common 1/2 pipe, few of course if you are doing large pipe.

i have used every other pipe dope and thread tape over the years and this stuff bar none is the best stuff for the job that i have
ever found.

two thumbs up there

bob g

[bschwartz]

Wow! And It's cheap too...
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(vssn5lampbpgnoj0eit0lm55)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=40968

[BruceM]

Thanks Bob and Bshwartz.  I just ordered a package to try-  I've got some plumbing changes to make on my air plumbing in my "House of Lister".  Hopefully less mess and stink than the gray silicone gasket maker goop I've been using.