Sealing Black Iron Pipe Joints Video

By Tim Carter
©1993-2010 Tim Carter

VIDEO SUMMARY

This pipe has threaded fittings at the connection point which need to be sealed with pipe dope or Teflon tape. The machined threads are not perfect, thus the need for sealing. Teflon tape should be wrapped onto the male end of the pipe in a clockwise direction when looking at down the end of the pipe. Once the Teflon tape is in place, screw the joint together. After hand tightening, use pipe wrenches to complete the assembly.

An alternative method of sealing pipe joints is the use of pipe dope. Pipe dope has the consistency of mashed potatoes. You just paint in on to the male threads of the pipe. Then, screw the parts together and tighten with pipe wrenches.

Two cautions! Do not put any pipe dope inside the black iron pipe and do not put Teflon tape inside the pipe either. Secondly, be sure to use those pipe wrenches to fully tighten the joint. Hand tightening alone will not work.






COMMENTS

Jeffpicks
22 Mar 2009, 20:32
Sorry Tim... tape and dope are NOT sealants, they are LUBRICANTS. The SEAL is supposed to be made in the threads, METAL TO METAL... and you used WAY TOO MUCH teflon tape... ONE WRAP is more than enough.
Roger
31 Mar 2009, 08:26
Tape and dope are both a sealant and a lubricant. The machined threads are not always perfect. The dope fills in the voids in the threads sealing the fitting.

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