Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The world of pipe fittings

naich.net

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

211–220 of 270 posts

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#211

Post by mildchalupa »

VLM wrote: post #104

The story misses some points. The first issue is pipes are used for a lot more than pressurized drinking water, and for compressed gases there's various standards so you don't accidentally connect your acetylene tank to your argon regulator and vice versa. Depending on local building codes, you have to work really hard in the USA to cross connect your natgas to your water supply, etc. For a home handyman this seems l…

There are a few pipe dopes that advertise a wide range of material comparability. I recently purchased some for a automotive racing fuel pump setup that was rated for gasoline, nat gas and water.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#212

Post by Gibbon1 »

mildchalupa wrote: post #208
cmclaughlin wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I like PEX, but I know opinions vary What’s not to like about PEX?

Nearly all homes built in Tucson AZ had a type of plastic that degrades over time resulting in catastrophic failure eventually.

Polybutylene Pipe was used in the 1970's into the mid 1980's when it was discovered that chlorine degrades it.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#213

Post by hilbert42 »

semireg wrote: post #196
jcims wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Of course—not being plumber—it often happens that when I urgently need PTFE tape I cannot find it Ahh, young padawan, the way of the elder is to buy a roll every time you have a project to do until you have achieved saturation...where there is a lightly used roll of teflon tape in every drawer and on every surface of your workshop and garage.

I just bought 24x 6” stainless steel rulers because every time I’d reach for one it’d be across the room at a different desk. Now I can capture a dozen at a time in their remote location for rehoming. Problem solved. Also on my list of buy too many so I’m never left without: sharpies, microfiber cloths, jumper cables, rice (carbs), frozen sliced sourdough (fancy carbs), pocketable protein/energy bars.

I know, 12" rules are bad enough at disappearing but 6" ones seem as fleeting and ephemeral as the wind.

At least it's nice that one can now purchase them in packs of a dozen or so.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#214

Post by mildchalupa »

ssl232 wrote: post #179
swayvil wrote: post #120

Given the choice, I love pex and those compression-bands that you put on with the special pliers. Pex got flex. For drains, pvc of course. Given run-of-the-mill refurbby waterline junk with plain ol copper, I like that brass kind of compression with the little sleeve. Don't trust sharkbite. Am a mediocre sweater. For gas, threaded with that pipe goo works surprisingly well. Haven't fucked it up yet. I wonder if you c…

You do your own gas work? I'm in the UK and I'm pretty sure you basically cannot legally touch gas fittings unless you're a qualified plumber.

Welcome to the states, we have no laws here. I helped my dad replace our gas lines as a child. I ran the rigid pipe lathe.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#215

Post by hilbert42 »

Geezus-42 wrote: post #199
hilbert42 wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, that makes sense. And my explanation is more complex than I could detail in my comment. I know I have too many diverse interests—fields of endeavor to quote you—and the older I get the more of them I accumulate. On the one hand having many interests is very useful because it allows me to see and understand common ideas or threads across quite disparate and diverse subjects that otherwise would not have been ob…

Have you ever been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD?

No, I can concentrate on jobs for very long periods, if anything it's the opposite problem. (Although, if you think about it the collateral effects are very similar.)

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#216

Post by hilbert42 »

ethbr0 wrote: post #202
hilbert42 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps if I'd used the proper name what I said may have been clearer. The correct name is hemp rope or plumber's rope but I don't often have that around (not being a plumber) so I use the next best thing available Hessian fabric or its rope equivalent). Here are some photos: https://www.bunnings.com.au/enduraseal-1m-plumbers-hemp_p012... https://waropes.com.au/twines/plumbers-hemp/ You wrap the hemp fibers around th…

>> [...] has been specifically designed and manufactured to suit the Australian market and conditions. That's some hearty stuff, then!

First class BS if you ask me. Hardly anything could be more generic than hemp rope methinks.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#217

Post by lazide »

hilbert42 wrote: post #215
Geezus-42 wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD?

No, I can concentrate on jobs for very long periods, if anything it's the opposite problem. (Although, if you think about it the collateral effects are very similar.)

ADD/ADHD isn’t always that you can’t ignore distractions.

It’s sometimes that you can’t stop focusing on something, even if you want to, or need to for your own health (like drinking water, or getting up and walking around tk stretch).

Hyper focus is the term.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#218

Post by lazide »

kortex wrote: post #189
mgarfias wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A small quibble: the tape don’t seal. It’s a lubricant for the threads wedging together to seal. For a REALLY good primer on the subject, read Carrol Smith’s _Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook_ (aka Screw to Win).

> the tape don’t seal. No, the tape absolutely contributes to the seal. Sure, the lubrication lets you thread more tightly without binding, but that's not to say the tape isn't contributing to the seal. If it didn't, you would still have a spiral leakage path. PTFE tape is soft enough that it deforms and prevents the spiral leakage path which can occur with any tapered threaded joint. I've actually used PTFE tape in…

The tape is so incredibly soft, it isn’t doing much on that front.

You also don’t actually have a spiral leakage pattern with NPT if tightened appropriately- the fitting it self deforms to seal it.

You need the tape or some other dope so the metal doesn’t gall when you do it.

If you aren’t tightening it that tight, then yeah you’ll need rope or whatever.

If you pull apart the fitting afterwards, it’ll be really clear you only end up with a tiny, nearly molecule thin layer of the PTFE at the inside of the fitting, if anything.

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#219

Post by lazide »

aidos wrote: post #116
jkqwzsoo wrote: post #9

In case anyone from the US reads this, BSPP and BSPT fittings are rare and incredibly frustrating here, as our NPT (National Pipe Taper) threads are different and the selection of BSP(P/T) fittings is extremely poor in comparison. Also, I work with NPT fittings quite a lot: > For what it’s worth, I tightly wrap the tape 10 times round the male thread and get an enraged mountain gorilla to tighten it up. This is a WTF…

I think there’s cultural difference where the tongue in cheek context has been lost a bit. They probably use neither 10 full wraps, nor an enraged mountain gorilla, but then I’ve seen stranger things in plumbing.

It’s hard to tell the difference between a frustrated home owner/part time plumber and an enraged silver back I guess.

At least one of them is vegetarian?

Re: The world of pipe fittings

#220

Post by lazide »

ethbr0 wrote: post #204
johnwalkr wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think it’s acceptable. Maybe works in pinch to get through a weekend but I would always replace it with a proper fitting. Plus if you damage the female threads or o-ring seat, you’ve made a much worse problem for yourself.

It's probably a commentary on the idea that the tapered male diameter is its max diameter(?), versus straight is throughout. Consequently, a tapered male will fully screw into a straight female, albeit with gaps between the threads at the deep end of the socket. Whereas a straight male will at most only screw the first few threads into a tapered female, leaving most of the male hanging out.

It’s asking to rip the threads out of the fitting (and have done so when trying). One way you’ll get some seal first, the other you won’t.
Post reply on HN