Basic plumbing question

Parrots beaks, valves, condensers, and all other hardware for stilling.

Basic plumbing question

Postby Professor Green » Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:33 pm

Hey guys, I am a complete dunce as far as plumbing goes and I've been wrestling with this for a while; how in the name of all that is sacred do you get plumbing fittings to line up properly when you screw them together? I want to fit a gate valve to my product condenser but I cannot get it to face the way I want it to.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

OK, stop laughing now...
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Meatheadinc » Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:46 pm

Thread tape :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Shiftynev » Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:47 pm

Use some Teflon tape.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Fishboy » Thu Jun 25, 2015 10:46 pm

You want to build up enough tape so that you can get the thread tight enough so you can stop turning where you want the valve to finish.
A good way to achieve this is put a heap of tape on and then thread your fitting on so it cuts a thread into the tape.

Undo the thread, wrap a bit more tape and return the fitting.
Keep doing this till you have a really firm fit
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby P3T3rPan » Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:30 am

Hemp is way more forgiving. :-B
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Professor Green » Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:59 am

Thanks for the tips chaps, I have been using teflon tape but clearly haven't been doing it right.

Never seen hemp plumbing tape before, I gather Bunnings don't sell it.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Triangle » Fri Jun 26, 2015 1:10 pm

Food grade hydraulic sealant sticks are excellent as well.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Professor Green » Fri Jun 26, 2015 3:33 pm

Thanks, never seen those either!

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Triangle » Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:52 pm

FYI, this is specifically the stuff I use on water/air/hydraulics;

http://www.loctite.com.au/3320_AUE_HTML ... b=document
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Sam. » Fri Jun 26, 2015 11:14 pm

Triangle Going Sick wrote:FYI, this is specifically the stuff I use on water/air/hydraulics;

http://www.loctite.com.au/3320_AUE_HTML ... b=document


Hmm, is it safe to eat?

Dubious about using it on a still.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Sam. » Sat Jun 27, 2015 7:48 am

Sam. wrote:
Triangle Going Sick wrote:FYI, this is specifically the stuff I use on water/air/hydraulics;

http://www.loctite.com.au/3320_AUE_HTML ... b=document


Hmm, is it safe to eat?

Dubious about using it on a still.


Would be allright for the cooling side but after reading the specs on it I wouldn't be using it in the vapour path :-B
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby OzKev » Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:33 am

If you want to build it up a lot, get the pink tape not the white. Works heaps better.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Professor Green » Sat Jun 27, 2015 10:47 am

Brilliant, thanks guys.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Triangle » Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:52 pm

Sam. wrote:
Sam. wrote:
Triangle Going Sick wrote:FYI, this is specifically the stuff I use on water/air/hydraulics;

http://www.loctite.com.au/3320_AUE_HTML ... b=document


Hmm, is it safe to eat?

Dubious about using it on a still.


Would be allright for the cooling side but after reading the specs on it I wouldn't be using it in the vapour path :-B


:handgestures-thumbupleft: Agree with that, my use is industrial and I took it OP was using it on cooling line. It does have good sealing strength retention in ethanol FWIW.

There is a food grade version but I can't find it anywhere online.
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Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Professor Green » Sat Jun 27, 2015 1:06 pm

Yep, definitely only for use in running cooling water to and from condensers.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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FSD Neutraliser
FSD Carter Head
12 litre double boiler with 2400W element

Re: Basic plumbing question

Postby Fishboy » Sun Jun 28, 2015 9:54 am

:text-+1: the pink plumbers tape.
Bunnings sells a huge roll for about eight bucks
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