Everyday life Quite often it forces a person to carry out minor repairs, during which rewinding is required. This could be a radiator, as well as plumbing fixtures. Every House master must learn to use tow correctly, as it will be useful to him sooner or later. can be made of metal, plastic, metal-plastic or nylon; each type of material has adapters for connecting other pipes. Such connections will be discussed below.
For reference
Quite often, home craftsmen have to decide how to wind flax onto the tap thread. If you want to hermetically connect the elements of the water supply and pipes, then perform work called packing. If it is necessary to pack two pipes at right angles using a coupling, it is best to cut threads at their ends. The coupling will contain internal thread and outer turns. Twisting them will not be enough; for a proper connection, the threads must be sealed.
Description of flax tow
Before wrapping flax on threads, you should become more familiar with the flax fiber material used to seal threads. The product is natural, it is made from primary processing thin, uniform and long-fiber flax. The area of use of flax tow is very wide. Depending on the manufacturing technology, the material can be tape, plumbing, jute or construction. In the latter case we're talking about about insulation, which can ensure reliable tightness of almost any connections. For its production, fully combed fibers are used, which are supplied in bales. This material is used for construction work for sealing seams, insulating the log house and laying wooden elements. It is natural, which is especially valued among those who build wooden houses. If construction tow is supplied in rolls, then it is called tape. This material is also used for caulking seams in log houses and laying crowns. The advantage of using flax is its cost. The material is much cheaper compared to any other. It is consumed economically; the fibers, although thin, have high strength. If you wind them correctly, they can be used for any type of work where any connections are used. These can be ceramic and cast iron pipes.
Additional benefits
Before you wrap flax on threads, you should know that it swells as it absorbs moisture. This allows you to increase the tightness, because the leakage has no paths. The mechanical stability of the material is quite high; it is this characteristic that makes it possible to adjust plumbing fixtures without losing the hermetic properties; connections can be unscrewed a full turn or half a turn.
Disadvantages of using flax
If you are thinking about how to wind flax on a thread, you should first become familiar with all the disadvantages of this material. The base material is organic, so it can rot when exposed to air and moisture. They can get inside during routine examinations. For this, tow is accompanied by additional material that can prevent rotting processes. This can be oil paint, sealing paste, lithol or solid oil.
In some cases, it is necessary to prepare the threads before winding, and if the material is laid in too thick a layer, this can cause damage to the connections, which is especially true for brass and bronze. If you are faced with the question of how to wind flax on a thread, you must remember that the seal being described requires the master to know the rules for winding. Related materials in combination with flax can significantly complicate disassembly, this applies to silicone or oil paint. Sometimes such additions make the installation process impossible. Flax is not suitable for use where temperatures can reach 90 °C. In such places, the material is welded and loses its sealing qualities. If you work with steel, you should definitely follow the winding technology. Otherwise, the threads may be subject to corrosion.
Winding flax onto a new thread
Before winding flax onto the thread, if it is new, you should prepare the turns. Many manufacturers today produce fittings that are already threaded, but the latter have notches that are intended for winding flax. The fact is that on a smooth thread the material can slip, it bunches up into a bunch, which leads to a violation of the seal. In order for the fibers to be able to hook, the turns must have serrations. If necessary, you can apply them with a file, a hacksaw or a file. Some craftsmen use a plumber's wrench or pliers: grasp the threads, and then apply notches with light pressure.
The main thing in this work is to achieve roughness on the turns. Before winding flax onto the thread, it is necessary to separate one strand from the whole braid. It is important to capture enough fibers so that the winding is not very thin, but it should not be thick either. Experts advise using a linen thickness that corresponds to two or one match. If there are lumps in the strands, they need to be removed, as well as small villi.
Work methodology
You can apply tow according to own technology, some experts twist it into a rope, some braid it into a loose braid, while others put it in the form of a loose thread. The order in which additional material is applied may also vary. In some cases, you can lubricate the thread by wrapping it with fibers, and then apply another layer. Sometimes the fibers are pre-impregnated and then prepared. Both options are considered correct. If you are thinking about how to wind flax on a thread - clockwise or counterclockwise - then you can listen to the recommendations of experts, some of them wind the strands along the thread, others do the opposite. In this case, the end of the strand should be clamped with a finger outside the turns, the first turn should form a cross, this will allow the material to be fixed. There should be no gaps, you need to lay one turn to another. If you are making a connection, then excess material will be squeezed out of the fitting, this is true if you are working with iron pipe and a steel coupling. Brass connections, which is important for those that are manufactured according to modern technologies, burst under strong pressure.
Around the wound flax it is necessary to apply plumbing paste or any other sealing material, the movements must be rotational. The work should be as neat as possible. The second end should be glued closer to the edge of the thread, and before tightening, you need to check whether the pipe hole is filled with sealing material. Now you know, you can see photos of these works in the article. However, from them you will not be able to understand that it is necessary to tighten the elements with moderate force. If the nut goes easily, then little flax was put in. The winding will be correct if the material does not come out and the surfaces around the joint remain clean. For gas connections It is not recommended to use organic tow, this is due to the fact that under the influence of gas it and the silicone, which is used additionally, are destroyed. Here it is most appropriate to use fum tape.
Winding flax on ecoplastic products
If you are thinking about how to wind flax on a thread, then you can use the technology that is used in the case of working on ecoplastic products. This material, like brass, can burst. The main thing is not to overdo it. Before starting work, both fittings should be connected and the number of revolutions counted. The flax is wound evenly, its surface is coated additional material, only then can the fittings be connected. If at idle you counted 5 revolutions, then after winding the tape it is best to make about 4.5 revolutions, but you do not need to reach the end. In this case, it is more advisable to use packaging paste instead of sealant.
Conclusion
Quite often, home craftsmen wonder how to wind flax onto a pipe thread. In this case, you should dismantle the connection and inspect the thread. You need to go through the coils with the tip of a knife or an awl; this method will allow you to get rid of accumulated debris. Before winding the tape, use a wire brush to clean the coils until you see a shine.
Many owners wooden houses are asking the question: “Why and when should caulking be removed and replaced with new insulating material?” We answer.
Materials such as tow, linen, felt have a very limited period suitability. Both tow and flax fiber can absorb moisture over time, become a haven for insect larvae, and significantly decrease in volume (due to the same larvae that simply eat the “natural” caulk). It is clear that such caulking ceases to perform its main functions, namely to preserve wooden house optimal microclimate, protect your home from drafts and wind. Here is the answer to the question: “Why remove caulk?” Then to reseal wooden building using modern, higher quality and durable materials.
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question about the timing of replacing caulk, since many factors come into play here. How long ago was the house caulked? What material exactly? Was the caulking done by experienced professionals or was it done by hand? We still want to give you a few useful tips regarding replacement timing old caulking new material.
- If you are going to thoroughly restore a wooden house, for example, make repairs to it, replace some logs, insulate it from the inside or outside, it is better to immediately take care of dismantling the old tow.
- Has your house become uncomfortable and cold, it’s unclear where the drafts are coming from, can you hear the “whistle” of the wind in the cracks? This means that the time has come to remove the caulk, since it is precisely because of its ineffective operation that the home is exposed to atmospheric factors.
How to remove caulk?
Removing old caulking is not so much a complicated process as it is labor-intensive. What exactly is a caulked seam? This is the gap into which during finishing works sealing material was tightly compacted, for example, the same tow. Please note: they did not glue, did not screw, but rather “pushed”. Naturally, it will be relatively simple to remove the caulking of a log house, which has also served its purpose, decreased in volume, and crumbled. For this you will need any handy tool, for example, chisel, iron ruler, nail, sharp hook, etc. Take it in your hands, put on safety glasses to prevent small particles of old oakum from getting into your eyes, and feel free to get down to business.
The second way to remove the old one insulating material simpler, but financially less profitable. You can simply contact any of construction companies performing various dismantling work, and qualified specialists will quickly and efficiently prepare your home for further finishing work.
Whichever of these two methods you choose, do not forget that the caulk should be removed very carefully: not a piece of tow should remain in the seams, which could cause a breakdown in the adhesion between the wood and the new thermal insulation material.
Caulking of wooden houses with tow, flax, etc. carried out in several stages, the seams must be caulked at least twice with an interval of 1-1.5 years. Dismantling of the old material should be carried out in full, removing both the rough caulk and its final “top” layer.
How to replace caulk?
Once old thermal insulation material will be completely removed, the seams in the wooden house must be resealed. Of course, you can caulk the house again, again using tow or flax fiber, but is it worth doing this, because after some time you will have to remove everything again. It is much more expedient to use special wood sealants for sealing and thermal insulation of seams, which are not susceptible to atmospheric influences, are not afraid of moisture and insects, and are environmentally friendly. Another important advantage of sealants is their durability. So, for example, the predicted service life acrylic sealant Accent-136 is a minimum of 25 years, which means that you definitely won’t have to remove it and reseal the seams after 3-4 years.
forum member
Participant
Registration: 04/04/12 Messages: 1,404 Thanks: 2,602
Registration: 01/22/11 Messages: 992 Thanks: 1,000
homemade if possible
Registration: 01/22/11 Messages: 992 Thanks: 1,000 Address: ZHITOMIR
Registration: 04/15/10 Messages: 134 Thanks: 36
forum member
Registration: 04/15/10 Messages: 134 Thanks: 36 Address: MO/Vladimir
Registration: 04/15/10 Messages: 134 Thanks: 36
forum member
Registration: 04/15/10 Messages: 134 Thanks: 36 Address: MO/Vladimir
Registration: 01/24/12 Messages: 61 Thanks: 11
Registration: 04/02/12 Messages: 3 Thanks: 1
Newbie
Registration: 04/02/12 Messages: 3 Thanks: 1
Registration: 12/04/11 Messages: 229 Thanks: 84
Registration: 04/05/12 Messages: 36 Thanks: 13
Participant
Registration: 04/05/12 Messages: 36 Thanks: 13 Address: Tolyatti
Registration: 03/15/09 Messages: 524 Thanks: 142
Registration: 04/05/12 Messages: 36 Thanks: 13
Participant
Registration: 04/05/12 Messages: 36 Thanks: 13 Address: Tolyatti
As paradoxical as it sounds, most plumbers manage to seal threaded connections... with tow, or, to put it into common language, with flax fibers. Flax with sealant, just flax - the imagination of the workers of the "plumbing field" is limitless. However, this approach cannot be explained otherwise than by inertial thinking. Tow, being natural fiber inevitably breaks down over time. The use of tow was justified in times of ordinary metal pipes, the main method of joining which was welding - and tow was present only at the junction of the pipe and the mixer. The number of threaded connections for metal-plastic pipes is many times greater, and the service life is much longer. As a result, there is a huge likelihood of leaks in threaded connections after a few years.
To avoid troubles, we recommend that you clarify with the contractors what specific sealing materials they plan to use before starting work. As you already understood, flax and its derivatives are unacceptable - require the use of modern polymer sealing materials, only they guarantee the reliability, tightness and durability of the thread. A small digression: if you urgently need to change the faucet, you don’t want to run for a supply of polymer sealant, and you plan to carry out the work in person - you can use an ordinary thin packaging bag from the nearest supermarket (not paper), simply wrapping it around the thread. However, let’s return to professional materials: Italian, German, Polish materials, Chinese and naturally domestic brands. There is not much difference between them.
The main difference between new polymer sealing materials compared to traditional ones is the stability of their properties throughout their entire service life, high reliability, ease of use and tightness of joints. Polymer seals can be divided into two types: pipe winding and plumbing anaerobic sealants. They differ in “form factor” and method of application.
When choosing a material for sealing threads, you should take into account the conditions in which installation will take place (temperature environment above 15C or below), connection operating conditions (heating, hot or cold drinking water, the presence of antifreeze in the system), connection materials (metal-to-metal, plastic-to-metal and also type of metal), accessibility of the connection (easy or difficult access, the need for subsequent access to the connection). To put it simply, for threaded connections that you do not plan to disassemble in the future (for example, heating), it is better to use an anaerobic sealant, but for systems that are periodically disassembled (faucets, showers, water filters, and water supply systems in general) It is better to use pipe winding. However, you can get by with just one type of polymer seal.
How to use a polymer seal? The diagrams for winding and sealing are different, so we will present them sequentially. So, if the choice fell on winding: it is necessary to clean the thread from obvious dirt, for which it is enough to wipe with a rag, then pull the recommended amount of thread out of the box and cut it with a built-in knife, the thread should be wound randomly, crossing the turns of the thread, crosswise (in the middle of the thread, it is advisable to wind several more than at the edges), then use keys to connect the threaded elements as tightly as possible. Connections assembled on threads can be checked for leaks immediately after twisting. Another option is to use FUM tape (tape made of fluoroplastic sealing material) - we wrap it tightly around the thread and cut off the edge, the rest is as described above.
If you decide to use a sealant, then: it is highly advisable to degrease the threads by wiping them with a rag moistened with an alcohol solution, glass cleaning fluid, etc.; Next, we take a brush and carefully coat the threaded grooves, cover with a layer of gel the entire outer and initial turns of the inner surface of the thread in an amount sufficient to fill the threaded gap as a whole. After the composition is applied, it is necessary to twist and unscrew the connection several times without disconnecting the fittings. Running back and forth promotes proper distribution of the compound in the thread and eliminates air inclusions. No twisting force is required; contact of several threaded turns is sufficient for sealing.
Compounds collected on anaerobic gel at room temperature can withstand low media pressure sufficient to test for leaks after 1 hour. The system can be fully launched within 1 day. Heating the connection with a hairdryer can speed up the sealing process significantly. The main symptom is hardening and decreased transparency of the gel in the thread gap.
The author’s subjective opinion is that pipe winding is somewhat easier to use and saves a lot of time.
Google Ads
Replacing fum tape
IN plumbing work New technologies have long since arrived, and fum tape has come to replace winding flax. But there are situations when there is neither winding flax at hand, nor, especially, fum tape. How to get out of this situation, literally, dry? How replace fum tape?
It turns out that we encounter such substitute material at every step today. For replacing fum tape An ordinary plastic bag, in which products are packaged in a store, be it bread, meat, fish or vegetables, is quite suitable. Any products in supermarkets and stores are packaged in such bags, but you should not use rustling dumpling or frozen packaging for these purposes.
There are no similar articles.
There are 8 comments left on this post.
It’s all so simple, but sometimes there’s an emergency and there’s nothing at hand.
More than once I found myself in situations where nothing was at hand, but I didn’t think of this, thanks for the advice!
I can’t imagine a reliable connection without Tangit. However, something happened. Then yes.
how to replace fum tape
Polyethylene is good advice.
This is an option for an EMERGENCY situation, but it is better to use fum tape. It was, I know.
I don’t argue with you that it’s better, of course, to use fum tape, but when you don’t have it at hand, but you need to get the job done, then this way you can get away with the situation.
Good advice! Sometimes you have to play the role of a brilliant plumber.
Everything ingenious is simple! Thanks, we'll use it.
Leave a comment or two
Subscribe to site updates. Receive new articles in the mail:
What can replace fum tape?
Fum tape can be replaced with flax + Unipak paste. These kits are sold at any plumbing store. The paste is needed to prevent the flax from rotting in contact with water. Previously, this paste was replaced with Surik primer
And also with Tangit Unilok thread
The highest quality connection in critical places is a connection using flax with paste.
Fum tape appeared relatively recently, and before, tow was used with all its might, and even now, when the tape has suddenly run out and you don’t want to go to the store, it’s quite possible to use tow. True, the tow has not gone very well now good quality(there is too much obvious straw in it), but even in this case, if you use it together with Unipak paste, and in extreme cases with ordinary paint, the connection will be reliable. It should be taken into account that when winding tow together with paint, it will be problematic to unwind such a connection.
You can replace fum tape with simple plumbing flax, because before the advent of fum tape, no one tried to wrap connections with anything other than flax. And to this day, all plumbers prefer linen rather than some kind of tape. Linen is much more reliable and costs much less than these imported bells and whistles.
How to replace fum tape at home
When choosing FUM tape or flax strands for thread sealing, it is wise to consider the third option - modern and more convenient. However, if in practice the question has become tough - which is better, fum tape or tow - then the answer will depend on several factors: what thread is sealed, in what system, where, what is its peculiarity. Let's talk today about the advantages and disadvantages of these classic sealants and analyze their scope of application.
Tow and plumbing - how it works
Plumbing flax, tow, flax strands are all names for the same thing. Flax tow is a sealant used for household needs more than 50 years. They compacted flax in the USSR, and they do it in the new Russia as well. Flax was not affected by any cataclysms: the transition to a market economy, the appearance of metal-plastic on the market, the demand for innovative sealants. Perhaps it will survive flax and renovation.
There is an opinion among ordinary people that sealing threads on flax - if not last century, it definitely smells like mothballs. There were cases when, upon seeing tow in the hands of a master, customers widened their eyes and advised not to do this again. They say there are better materials in stores. However, professionals know that they need to work with any sealant, because the need for it may arise unexpectedly.
Linen is a skein in the form of a braid, from which the required length is cut to seal the thread specific diameter. It is difficult to calculate the exact amount of flax for the mixture. They do this by eye, based on previous experience. We can say for sure that linen is suitable for carving in any condition: dirty, wet or old. Those. For systems that have seen the world, for example, in old houses, linen is irreplaceable.
Tow for pipes is also popular due to its low price. The cost of 100 grams of sanitary flax starts at 50 rubles and depends on the quality of the material. However, not all so simple. By itself, a strand of flax is useless. You can't just wind flax and assemble the joint. Additional impregnation is required to enhance the sealing properties. Impregnation paste is applied on top of the flax wound on the thread and protects against corrosion, swelling, and rotting. Together with impregnation, the price of flax has already reached 150 rubles per 100 grams.
The usual form of flax production - in braids - causes complaints from consumers. Flax fibers get in the way, cling to clothes, stick to the impregnation and spoil the appearance of the joint. Some manufacturers today produce flax in a bobbin. A reel costs more than 200 rubles for 80-100 grams. Which, of course, reduces talk about the availability of flax to nothing.
The two main disadvantages of flax are its nature and application technology. Flax is organic, plant material. And how plant material rots or decays over time. Impregnated tow lasts longer than the one without treatment, but still the compound on flax has a very specific and very short shelf life - 3-5 years. Such connections should be regularly inspected and checked for leaks.
When it comes to application, linen requires a trained hand and experience. First, the difficulty lies in the exact amount of linen tape. Secondly, they wind it strictly along the thread, getting into each turn. Thirdly, the end of the strand is also secured in a special way at the beginning of the thread - so that when twisted it does not roll or slip. To secure flax to the threads, notches are specially made or fittings with ready-made, factory-made notches are selected. It is not recommended to use flax on plastic, metal-plastic, or thin-walled threads. In general, with a wide variety of sealants on the market, the use of flax raises a lot of questions.
What can be used instead of tow? Synthetic sealants. They last longer and are less hassle. Let's look at an example of such a sealant - FUM tape.
FUM tape is a synthetic sealant based on fluoroplastic. As the name implies, it is a tape produced in a reel. The cost varies from 30 to 160 rubles and above and depends on the quality of the material, width and thickness. To seal the thread, the FUM is selected individually, depending on the diameter.
FUM tape, unlike flax, is most effective on plastic pipes and fine carving. Many craftsmen note that they use FUM for diameters no larger than 1 inch, because... Otherwise, tape consumption cannot be called economical.
To apply FUM tape, it is first stretched into a thread, wound onto each thread several times, and then the entire width of the tape is applied to the thread and secured. They begin to assemble the connection and do it very carefully so that the tape does not get lost or break. If you have never had to deal with this kind of sealant before, we advise you to practice “idle” - try the winding a couple of times, and then get to work. By the way, this way you will quickly understand how to replace tow with ribbon or some other material.
The moment of choice of tape is fundamental. If flax is assessed by appearance, then FUM needs to be tried. High-quality tape stretches well and does not tear. But you can understand this by already purchasing the sealant - on site. It is unlikely that a store or market will allow you to test a product without paying.
Besides plastic and thin-walled threads, where else is fum tape relevant?
For gas supply systems and non-standard liquid media
For high temperature systems
For repairing rubber rings and gaskets in faucets, shower heads
What is important to know when buying tape?
Ineffective in heating systems because cannot withstand multidirectional loads and pressure changes
Demanding on the quality of the thread - before winding, the thread is checked for the presence of burrs, notches, and roughness that can damage the tape
It is capricious and shows results only in the hands of a professional - to work with FUM tape, you need experience not only in application, but also in choosing a good material
FUM tape or tow? These sealants have a lot in common - low price, fame in the market and in the professional environment, availability in any region. But they also have serious disadvantages in common: not the most convenient application, limited scope of application, high consumption. If you have to extensive work- installation of communications in a private house, installation of equipment and plumbing - it is better to choose the latest generation of seals: polymer thread, anaerobic gel. With them you will do everything 3 times faster due to high speed application and instant sealing.
anaerobic sealants as an alternative to traditional sealants
The difference between fum tape and electrical tape?
In this article, as in the video, I will try to break down quite complex and interesting topic regarding the best way to pack threads. Besides a few less common thread sealers that many have never heard of, there are three main competitors on the market in the fight for the hearts of plumbers and anyone who has ever wound threads in their household. These are LINEN, FUM-TAPE and THREAD.
IN Soviet times there was no such question, since in addition to flax Soviet industry She simply didn’t offer anything else. Now, for many years, disputes between supporters of the “classical” approach, that is, adherents of flax and their “more modern” colleagues who use fum tape and plumbing thread, have not subsided. Which one is right?
The fact is that among these three sealing materials there is no clear favorite and outright outsider. Each seal is good in its own way, and also has its negative sides. Let's sort them out.
Plumbing linen
Positive sides of flax:
- Absolutely reliable connections. Centuries of experience in using this seal speaks of its absolute reliability. If you wind the flax onto the thread correctly, then you don’t need to worry about the tightness.
- Low price. This is the cheapest sealant; the ratio of the number of wound threads to the money spent is clearly in favor of flax.
- Possibility of adjustment. The connection between flax and paste, even after a few years, can be slightly adjusted, tightened, unscrewed a little, but no more than 45 degrees. In this case, the tightness will not be broken.
Negative sides flax:
- The speed of working with flax is very low.
Seals: flax, FUM tape, thread, sealants
In the time spent on one winding with flax, you can wind several threads with thread or a fusel. If a facility requires tens or hundreds of threads to be packed, this can easily result in a half-day time difference. And time is money. If you need to wind up one or two threads, then this point is not important.
- Dirty hands. The fact is that flax is used in conjunction with sealing paste. Read more about pasta in this article. This paste is very soiled and you need to wipe your hands after each use.
Fum tape
Positive aspects of fum tape:
- Speed of work. Winding the threads with fum tape is the fastest option.
Negative sides of fum tape:
- Requirement for experience. Despite the apparent simplicity of using fum tape, it is very insidious and requires experience and knowledge in winding. A beginner will most likely not be able to wind it correctly the first time. Also for different types thread available different types fum tapes that differ in width and thickness, this must also be taken into account.
- Unreliability. People will argue with me, but in my opinion, the connections on the fum tape are the most unreliable. I think that this fact is mostly caused by the reasons from point 1.
- Impossibility of adjustment. If, during operation or repair of pipelines and connections, the connection on the fum tape is slightly damaged, moved, or twisted, it will inevitably leak. Which will not happen when using flax with paste and thread.
Plumbing thread
Positive aspects of the thread:
- Thread is good for everyone. This is the most modern material, which has few disadvantages.
- Available for beginners. Even someone who has never packed threads in their life, after reading the instructions or watching a video on YouTube, will be able to seal the threads tightly the first time using thread. She forgives mistakes and handles very well.
- The possibility of adjustment is very large. Threaded connection, wound with thread, can be adjusted up to 180 degrees without loss of tightness.
Negative properties of the thread:
- Price. Thread is a very expensive sealant. For home use when winding one or two threads per year, this is not so important. For a professional who winds dozens of threads a day, this can be very expensive.
- The need for a knife. The thread is usually very strong and cannot be broken by hand. You should always have a knife or scissors at hand, which affects the winding time.
Conclusions:
- A thread- for home use and for those professionals who do not save money.
- Linen- for professional use.
- Fum tape- for temporary connections.