In the schluter thread, I mentioned a leaking shower valve. There were
in fact two leaks; one from a fault in the valve itself, and a larger
one where the connection to the valve had failed. I have a new valve on
the way to remedy the first problem, but when I install it I want to
make damn sure that the connections aren't going to fail again.

All four connections to the valve are 3/4" parallel BSP. There's no
appreciable inner face to seal against. None of the outer faces are
machined smooth, although the two outlets are in fact relatively flat.
The inlet ports are decidedly not flat, with a roughly shaped groove
around them that's broken by a slot and ridge - not really a good
sealing surface.

When I put it in the first time, I tried various kinds of seals. I ended
up with polythene washers on three of the ports, and an O ring (which
I'd tried earlier, based on the groove) on the hot inlet (it seemed to
be working, so I didn't replace it with another polythene washer).
However, I don't really want to fit the new valve like this, as I have
very little confidence in it.

I used 3/4" parallel male fittings before. Would I be better off this
time using taper fittings with PTFE?

Pete

Would I be better off this time using taper fittings with PTFE?

Just a lot of ptfe on the threads you have, so that the fittings are
stiff to wind in, until they bottom.

RubberBiker wrote:
Would I be better off this time using taper fittings with PTFE?

Just a lot of ptfe on the threads you have, so that the fittings are
stiff to wind in, until they bottom.

Tried that first time round, before the various washers. Couldn't get it
to seal.

Pete

Pete Verdon d
wibbled on Tuesday 06 October 2009 14:24

RubberBiker wrote:
Would I be better off this time using taper fittings with PTFE?

Just a lot of ptfe on the threads you have, so that the fittings are
stiff to wind in, until they bottom.

Tried that first time round, before the various washers. Couldn't get it
to seal.

Pete

On a smaller thread (1/4" IIRC) with the same problems, I used gas PTFE
(thicker) - and I needed 8 wraps to get it nice and stiff. Seals at 7.5 bar
though

What about something like Rocol Threadseal XS
http://www.tradecounterdirect.com/pr...o.php?pid=1202

That looks pretty permanant...
--
Tim Watts

This space intentionally left blank...

On 6 Oct, 12:06, Pete Verdon
d wrote:
In the schluter thread, I mentioned a leaking shower valve. There were
in fact two leaks; one from a fault in the valve itself, and a larger
one where the connection to the valve had failed. I have a new valve on
the way to remedy the first problem, but when I install it I want to
make damn sure that the connections aren't going to fail again.

All four connections to the valve are 3/4" parallel BSP. There's no
appreciable inner face to seal against. None of the outer faces are
machined smooth, although the two outlets are in fact relatively flat.
The inlet ports are decidedly not flat, with a roughly shaped groove
around them that's broken by a slot and ridge - not really a good
sealing surface.

When I put it in the first time, I tried various kinds of seals. I ended
up with polythene washers on three of the ports, and an O ring (which
I'd tried earlier, based on the groove) on the hot inlet (it seemed to
be working, so I didn't replace it with another polythene washer).
However, I don't really want to fit the new valve like this, as I have
very little confidence in it.

I used 3/4" parallel male fittings before. Would I be better off this
time using taper fittings with PTFE?

Pete

We used to manufacture brass and gunmetal fittings for a large very
well known manufacturer of plumbing fittings before the work went
offshore.All female BSP threads up to 3" were parallel but were gauged
with a taper gauge.In other words they were to be fitted with BSPT
fittings.There is so little material in these fittings now that they
stretch to fit a taper thread.

"Pete Verdon" d wrote in
message ...
In the schluter thread, I mentioned a leaking shower valve. There were in
fact two leaks; one from a fault in the valve itself, and a larger one
where the connection to the valve had failed. I have a new valve on the
way to remedy the first problem, but when I install it I want to make damn
sure that the connections aren't going to fail again.

All four connections to the valve are 3/4" parallel BSP. There's no
appreciable inner face to seal against. None of the outer faces are
machined smooth, although the two outlets are in fact relatively flat. The
inlet ports are decidedly not flat, with a roughly shaped groove around
them that's broken by a slot and ridge - not really a good sealing
surface.

When I put it in the first time, I tried various kinds of seals. I ended
up with polythene washers on three of the ports, and an O ring (which I'd
tried earlier, based on the groove) on the hot inlet (it seemed to be
working, so I didn't replace it with another polythene washer). However, I
don't really want to fit the new valve like this, as I have very little
confidence in it.

I used 3/4" parallel male fittings before. Would I be better off this time
using taper fittings with PTFE?

Pete

Taper is the way to go Pete (As Mark said).
As BS21.
3 or 4 Twists of tape.
Job Done!..
Baz