pipe dope or teflon tape.

[shaken-n-stirred]

Which do professionals prefer to use as a general question : pipe dope or Teflon tape on threaded copper pipe?

One specific application I have immediately is the male threads of a frost free hose bib TO the female threaded ... ah ... nipple (? name ?)

Thanks all.

 

[Matt30]

Me: Teflon then pipe dope

 

[frodo]

.no teflon tape, unless its med gas ..etc

 

[frodo]

you ill find tape, dope, flux, solder are a kind of personal preference type thing. what ever works for you is what you use.

matt was most likely taught by a plumber who only uses tape, so mat.....only uses tape

I was taught by a plumber who used #5 on everything, sandwich, pipe, did not matter

 

[Matt30]

I use both at the same time. Teflon, then pipe dope on the starting threads. It is the way I was taught, but most others I know do pipe dope, then Teflon which doesn't make sense to me. But at the end of the day, as long as it doesn't leak I don't care what is used

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

Ok, whether dope only or tape and then dope .... What dope or is dope dope?

Frodo, I can only read they stuff you pictured for plastic pipe.?????

 

[Matt30]

It will say on the can what applications its approved for. Some aren't approved for oil and gas, some are only approved for oil and gas, some aren't approved for potable water. Just read the can and make sure the product is right for your application.

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

I am talking about copper on copper threads.

Just a matter of opinion is the answer?

thanks

 

[Matt30]

No....what it's APPROVED for is the answer. Weather it's copper on copper, copper on plastic, plastic on brass, means as much as the application in which you are using it. A lot are pretty universal, but not all are created equal. Go to the store, pick up a can and read it

 

[Chris]

I use dope or #5

 

[ExtraMilePlumbing]

I have been told Teflon tape is to fill in the gap and pipe dope is to lubricate you're threats to get more threats in . Now I always use both . If a connection has a washer I only use dope to make sure I reach the washer

 

[frodo]

when I run into a little seeper, that is trying to cause me grief. and I am just tired of fooling with it
I break out the ****, pro-dope, it is black, thick as tar, will seal your a---

this is my emergency go to .8oz runs me around 30 bucks, so, no i do not use it on everything

 

[ExtraMilePlumbing]

Thanks for that info frodo. That stuff looks strong

 

[shaken-n-stirred]

Matt, I understand that you should use the proper product for the material in question.

I am a very capable DIYer. The thing I always need to do is research techiques and materials. In this case it just SEEMS (seems is similar to never ASSUME, it make an AZZ out of U and ME) ... it seems like Teflon tape for a copper pipe application is weird, you solder everything else. Why not just us Teflon tape for the entire system? no one does, of course, but if it works for coupling situations ????

So just making sure Teflon tape is in order.

Sure sounds like there is no harm in using both, for copper on copper.

Thanks all

 

[frodo]

most people use the tape incorrectly, and use the wrong tape for gas line.

it is far more expensive to use than dope,


if you are using teflon tape, in my opinion you also wear ice cream shoes

 

[stevemachine]

I use tape and dope personally. But all the stuff i typically do are long runs so its just a bit of insurance. Not much fun cutting unions in.

 

[frodo]

i would say that 98% of leaks are caused by a purse pulling the pipe wrench

2% are bad threads

 

[stevemachine]

i would say that 98% of leaks are caused by a purse pulling the pipe wrench

2% are bad threads

I would agree haha. And if you check your threads before hand you should be good. On my most recent job we ran about 2000 ft of 2" temp gas and we had three leaks. One was one of the guys didn't have it tight enough and the other two were defective chinese fittings where the threads weren't tapped properly.