I got that valve for copper tubing I posted about before --
thanks for
the advice and leads on that -- and it has a compression
fitting at
each end.

CY: Hmm. And,w hat is your question?

Does anyone flare the tubing enough so that the compression
ring and
the nut don't come off the tube?

CY: Nope.

Or does that end up making it too
big to get into the seat?

CY: Just not designed to do that.

And is it true what one web page says that the compression
ring can be
used only once???
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/i...b/infcomp.html

"You can not remove a compression ring from tubing once it
has been
used. If you can't get a leakproof connection, the tubing
behind the
ring will have to be cut, and a new ring installed. Though
the
compression nuts can often be reused, I would recommend
against it
because the old nut may be slightly deformed and lessen the
quality of
the new connection."

CY: I've been able to take a fitting apart and put it back
together, on occasion. Don't disturb the ferrule
(compression ring). Just unscrew the nut, do what you need
to do, and put it back together.

Is any of this true? I"ve reused the compession ring on the
humidifier at least 6 times, every time I've removed the
tubing from
it. The connection has never leaked.

CY: Glad that worked.

Does the tubing flare when you tighten the nut

CY: No, the tubing compresses.

and does the tubing
have to be cut to remove the ring, just to replace it?
Isn't that
good, that way the ring doesn't fall off!

CY: I've found it best to cut the tubing back a bit, when
replacing a nut and ferrule.

Do they even sell rings separately?

Do people really use a new nut when they reconnect??

One url says use plumber's grease for the nuts but the other
pages
don't say a thing about that. Do you use it?

CY: I use that, or WD-40. Helps the nut and such to slip in
relation to each other.

Can the tubing really be "severed by the compression sleeve"
if the
nut is tightened too much, like another page says.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6025504_conn...-fittings.html

CY: I've not had that happen.

Do you use "thread seal tape"? One page said not to and the
other
page said the opposite!

CY: No, don't use teflon tape.


I'm confused!

CY: Yep, I can imagine. What has worked for me is: DO NOT
sand paper the tubing before slipping on the ferrule. Put
the nut on, and then the ferrule. Oil under the nut and
ferrule. Snug, but not tight. If one over tightens (yeah, I
tend to) then it leaks.