PTFE Tape Direction Of Travel

[chamois]

Can someone tell me the correct way to wrap PTFE around a plumbing compression joint eg a 15mm brass coupler. Is it wound clockwise or anticlockwise if the nut turns clockwise and from which end do you look at it when deciding if it's clockwise or anticlockwise? what about re-using a brass coupler - is it acceptable to wind the new PTFE tape over the threads when the threads have old PTFE tape in place?

Thanks all.

[Buenchico]

http://www.uksgc.co.u...e-ptfe-tape-properly/

[tezestwing]

olives seal them selves so you should not need any tapes only a dab of boss blue if it is potable water HTH Tez

[AlBags]

Didn't say anything about olives, did he?
Compression coupler. Yes, just rewind some more PTFE clockwise.

[scotman]

You wind it the same way that the nut tightens.

[beso]

With a compression cone the winding direction doens't really matter because the sealing surface is not subjected to torque. I have often rejuvinated cones with a a few layers of PTFE. I would even include a couple of layers on a new fitting. PTFE is a fabulous lubricant.

Anealling the cone by heating to red hot can also help if they don't have too much of a groove.

On sealing threads the tape should be wound in the so the tail of the tape is pulled tight by the rotation of the join. I will use this direction by default in any connection.

I have even successfully entirely substituted a substantial winding of tape for an olive.

A thin layer of tape is a good lubricant on any brass thread. It is especially useful in the old thimble and ring brass polyethylene pipe couplings to prevent the ingress of soil into the the non-sealing thread of the compression nut. Without it the treads often become seized.

I have successfully used a tapered winding of PTFE on parallel threads where a tapered thread was required.

[heathfield]

Why, oh why, are we always told to wrap PTFE tape round the threads?? In a compression fitting using olives the waterproof seal has nothing to do with the threads. I put the olive on the pipe and tighten the fitting until the olive has gripped the pipe, crimping the pipe ever so slightly. Check that the olive isn't free to rotate on the pipe, but is gripping it firmly. Wrap three tight turns of tape round the olive in the direction of tightening the fitting. Do it so that each turn of the tape overlaps the olive on both sides. Do up the fitting, and Bob's your uncle.
As to forming a taper with PTFE tape on parallel threads, this is the common way of connecting a garden tap to its wall-mount elbow fitting. By trial and error, tape is wound onto the thread on the tap until, with the tap fitted and fully tightened, it's in an upright position.

[heathfield]

PTFE on an olive is common practice with plumbers in my area, Doc. It does no harm, and it certainly helps prevent a lot of swearing !!