I hate pipe dope...

[Thermo1223]

Why does every plumber insist on using 1lb of it per fitting and using it on things that shouldn't have pipe dope near them like flare fittings specifically NG appliances.

Installed a used oven from a friend and his plumber put it on everything he could find to. The brass orifices, the brass regulator, the flared fittings for the flexible like. WHY?!?

The only thing that needed it was the couple to the gas valve. /rant

I only used the PTFE tape for gas lines because I can't stand the mess.

 

[John Galt]

I get and agree with your point but the plumber friend needs to eliminate callbacks and have no leaks. The quality of the threads and thickness of the brass on many threaded fittings and valves makes it a bit edgy to tighten up on threaded joints the way you might have 20 years ago, before all plumbing hardware was made overseas. I have had fittings split while being tightened up - that is a new feature of the modern quality of plumbing hardware. The use of pipe dope probably lets him leave a last full “man turn” off the fitting without fear that it going to leak.

As for using pipe dope on flared and compression fittings I agree that is inexcusable.

 

[zzyzzx]

The quality of the threads and thickness of the brass on many threaded fittings and valves makes it a bit edgy to tighten up on threaded joints the way you might have 20 years ago, before all plumbing hardware was made overseas. I have had fittings split while being tightened up - that is a new feature of the modern quality of plumbing hardware.

^^^ THIS. I don't trust newer threaded fittings that are probably made by children in a dirt floor factory in China / India / Pakistan, etc.

 

[JohnnyG]

Sometimes you just have to get serious, like when dealing with gasoline piping and have the EPA breathing down your neck!
I got to the point where I'd use Teflon tape, then just a bit of Teflon paste over that, worked like charm and no leaks.
No leaks, no fines!

 

[4wd]

^^^ THIS. I don't trust newer threaded fittings that are probably made by children in a dirt floor factory in China / India / Pakistan, etc.

Yep, I just put a new sink in our utility room. The NPT stuff was CCPT - terrible dimension control. Used allot of Teflon tape and paste - but cleaned the excess very well …

 

[walterjay]

I always used thread tape and a little teflon pipe dope on threaded fittings. Pretty much guaranteed to not leak. And I always did it neatly.

 

[JavierH19]

I second the others above.

The quality of these parts and fittings has gone down the equally cheap quality toilet. The new fittings and parts I get at lowes and hd are junk compared to stuff that is from decades ago. I too use a lot more pd and teflon than before to prevent leaks and in hopes it'll last longer before having to mess with it again.