Based on advice in a prior thread, I swapped out my bad undersink
shutoff valves, and replaced them. For the replacement, I installed
compression fittings and an adapter for valves to thread into. I am
getting dripping where the valve threads into the adapter.

It doesn't seem like I should have to keep tightening as much as I am.
I hurt my right thumb recently, so I don't have the strength I could
right now, but I still have it very secure. Is there something I need
to help seal? I'm wondering if rubber washers or some kind of putty
needs to be applied.

If it's just elbow grease, then I probably need a better (longer)
adjustable wrench so I can torque these things up.

My other problem is the existing connections to everything assume the
valves are oriented a certain way. If I keep turning the valves, I can
no longer make these connections. I have a hard time believing
tightening is my only option.

"Adam Preble" wrote in message
...
Based on advice in a prior thread, I swapped out my bad undersink shutoff
valves, and replaced them. For the replacement, I installed compression
fittings and an adapter for valves to thread into. I am getting dripping
where the valve threads into the adapter.

It doesn't seem like I should have to keep tightening as much as I am. I
hurt my right thumb recently, so I don't have the strength I could right
now, but I still have it very secure. Is there something I need to help
seal? I'm wondering if rubber washers or some kind of putty needs to be
applied.

If it's just elbow grease, then I probably need a better (longer)
adjustable wrench so I can torque these things up.

My other problem is the existing connections to everything assume the
valves are oriented a certain way. If I keep turning the valves, I can no
longer make these connections. I have a hard time believing tightening is
my only optio

I am, guessing the threaded joint is dripping. Try this remove it put
Pipe dope on threads, then put 5 to 7 wraps of Teflon tape clockwise, then
put pipe dope on that Then put back together. If the Compression fitting is
leaking Take apart dope the threads and the feral.

I would just use the teflon. You definitely should not be putting a lot
of torque on these- you'll damage them. 5 - 7 wraps sounds like a
lot to me, might be a bit hard to thread them at that point.

Sev wrote:
I would just use the teflon. You definitely should not be putting a lot
of torque on these- you'll damage them. 5 - 7 wraps sounds like a
lot to me, might be a bit hard to thread them at that point.

That's what happened to one of the compression fittings. I'm very
backwards with this stuff but I'm improving. I wasn't using any teflon
tape at all. Now that I have the stuff on, there are a few rare drips,
but I'm going to see what I get in the morning.

The cold water faucet tap has copper pipe underneath that goes to the
shutoff. It has an old compression fitting that I was originally
reusing. It took a lot of turns to get it drip-free, but I got it.
Then I had to take the whole mess apart to apply teflon tape. On the
retry, it wouldn't thread on anything.

Given how late it is, I couldn't make much noise, so I managed to cram a
new compression nut at the end of the pipe; it had a lot of pipe to
spare, which was a problem in itself.

On 1 Feb 2006 22:29:54 -0800, "Sev" wrote:

I would just use the teflon. You definitely should not be putting a lot
of torque on these- you'll damage them. 5 - 7 wraps sounds like a
lot to me, might be a bit hard to thread them at that point.

I never use more than one wrap and a little overlap. Isn't that the
way one is supposed to do it?

I thought it is only to fill in uneven places in the metal, but the
basic closure is when one tightens it, and the thread of the nut
presses against the the thread of the other piece.


If you are sure you have too much pipe, you can cut some off with a
tubing cutter. They're cheap, and if you don't get the mini size,
they get big enough to do the main copper pipes in your house also.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

I don't use the tape, I use the pipe dope (liquid).
I don't use compression fittings, it's like asking for a leak.

Maybe you are using the wrong part, or something? There are different
types of threads and if you buy the wrong fitting it will leak and
you'll never figure out why.

"Sev" wrote in message
oups.com...
I would just use the teflon. You definitely should not be putting a lot
of torque on these- you'll damage them. 5 - 7 wraps sounds like a
lot to me, might be a bit hard to thread them at that point.


So what your saying all my years of plumbing and pipe Fitting I'm doing it
wrong?

Tape and dope together Dave? Can't say I've heard of that, but I
haven't heard of lots. If it works, it works.