And so, if you need to connect two plumbing parts so that the connection does not flow,
this can be done with all sorts of ribbons
Or with linen. Many may accuse me of outdated thread sealing - flax.
But I still compact with flax because it is cheaper. I rarely use such a tape, I use it where flax does not help, but more on that another time.
In addition to linen, I use unipack and multipack.
It's like a sealing paste. It serves to ensure that the flax does not deteriorate, does not burn out from the temperature, and the connection can be disassembled. For earlier this same flax was smeared with paint. After the “dyed” flax has stood for a year, it is difficult to disassemble such a connection. If flax is not smeared with anything, then the connection will be short-lived.
Moreover, the use of paste allows you to adjust the connection. Those. if you twisted a little, then according to the manufacturer, the connection can be twisted back up to 45 degrees.
Now linen.
Flax is sold in different ways. The most convenient way for the user to wrap flax is in skeins like threads.
A ready-made strand is taken from the middle. This is a great solution, but not very cheap.
Therefore, we use it in a different form. 
But they also differ in quality. In the first photo we see shit-flax and in the second - flax. Shit-flax differs from flax in that the former is very rough and can be smelly. It is more difficult to make a strand of the desired “thickness” out of it.
How to wind?
everything is very simple. The main thing is not to be afraid and not to overdo it. The bottom line is this: Wrap too much, the connection may burst, if too little, it may also leak.
How to use Unipack? The manufacturer recommends smearing the paste on the cleaned thread, then we wind the flax and on top another layer of Uniate.
We smear only on top, and sometimes I just smear the whole strand with unipack and then wind it on the thread.
The most important thing is that it is necessary to wind the flax so that when twisting it does not unwind. On a regular thread, we wind it clockwise. When twisting the product, linen will not unravel. And so, let's go:
Wound and applied unipack? Now we twist.
Most importantly, do not wind too much so that the fitting does not crack.
This connection must be conscientiously pulled together with two keys. And this can be the end. Let's move on to the next connection.
Addition of material from the comments from the reader Ilya. October 2012
For sealing connections, you need to use a choice of:
1. Linen + sanitary paste.
Flax is not suitable for temperatures above 90 degrees, it boils over time, burns out, loses its properties.
2. TANGIT Uni-Lock or equivalent.
Tangit unilok is more expensive than analogues, 20 meters Tangit unilok (a package on a blister, on which it is written that it is enough for 50 connections for a 1/2 inch thread) costs 130 rubles, and an analogue - "Plumbing" 50 meters costs the same 130 rubles ( in Leroy-Merlin, St. Petersburg).
3. Polyamide thread + silicone grease.
On the packages of Tangit unilok and analogues, the composition is written: polyamide thread + silicone. If we want to save money, then we conclude: you can buy an ordinary thick thread of polyamide in a hardware store or in a sewing store and buy thick or liquid silicone grease in auto parts or the same plumbing paste.
4. Linen rope + plumbing paste.
Household linen, jute and similar ropes made from plant materials are sold in construction and hardware stores. They cost about 50 rubles. for 50 meters.
Silicone sealant is not suitable because it polymerizes / hardens and if you need to position the connection, say after a few hours, then it will break inside the thread. Therefore, a sealing filler that does not harden and does not wash out should be used. In addition, acetic-based silicone sealants can be corrosive to metals.
In general, in order to understand which is better, you just need to experiment.
How to wind? Crosswise, as indicated in the instructions for Tangit unilok, either threaded or against threaded - it's all a matter of habit. The main thing is to wind tightly so that the thread is closed with the material used. I will wind it this way and that, and nothing will come out of the thread and nothing will flow. But still, a thread or linen wound against a thread will be cut faster when the nut is tightened, this is obvious.
Winding different materials for 1/2" thread:
1.
We take flax, smooth it, trim a strand with a thickness of one, maximum two matches.
We smooth the separated strand again, holding it between the fingers, we throw out the small villi.
If desired, you can twist the strand into a lace.
We wind it very tightly along the thread, starting from the edge so that the thread groove is completely closed.
Then we take the plumbing paste and spread a small amount with rotational movements on the wound linen.
If your hands grow from the right place, then everything should turn out very carefully.
Then we twist the connection, twisting should occur with a certain effort, but not with all the dope!
If the nut is twisted easily, then there is little flax, or there is too much clearance between the internal and external threads. It is necessary to unwind the linen and wind up a new one in a larger quantity.
If everything is done correctly, then linen should not come out from under the thread and it will be dry :)
2. The thread Tangit unilok is wound along the thread or crosswise 6-8 turns and connected. And everything.
3.
Self-made option. We also wind the polyamide thread and coat it with sanitary paste or thick silicone grease. Or, first, the entire skein of threads is abundantly impregnated with liquid silicone grease. We wind on the connection. We connect. And that's it.
If you soak or soak a skein of thread in a liquid lubricant, then you need to put it in some small plastic box or bottle so that dirt does not stick to the thread and it does not stain anything.
4. We separate the linen rope into two laces, from which it is twisted. We cut off 40-50 cm. We wind it on the thread. Lubricate with sanitary paste and tighten the connection.
Synthetic thread - Tangit unilok or analogue - is the most versatile!
True knowledge will come only with experience!
Sanitary flax is widely used in pipelines for various purposes for sealing threaded joints. This is the most popular seal used in industrial and domestic pipelines.
The main reason for such a widespread use of sanitary flax is the reliability, low cost and availability of the material. For the production of sanitary flax, flax fiber is used longer than for the production of tow (No. 8.10). For sanitary purposes, flax number 12-14-16 is used. The quality of flax fiber is higher, the higher its number.
Flax is grown in the fields in the Tver and Smolensk regions. After mowing flax, it is left in the field, where, under the influence of the sun and natural moisture, microorganisms destroy the stem of the plant and only the fibers remain. The fibers are then dried in special machines and combed in carding machines. During these procedures, long fibers are selected from short ones. Short fibers are used for the production of ropes and threads, long fibers for sanitary flax.
Due to the strength of the fiber, flax does not collapse when twisting the connecting fittings. Long and thin fibers of sanitary flax fill the recesses of the thread and tightly connect them together. In the process of application, when wet, flax swells and fills the free space of the plumbing unit, thereby ensuring 100% tightness of the pipeline. To enhance the natural bactericidal activity of flax, to prevent its decay and fading, after winding the flax on the thread, you can apply a thin layer of sealing paste.
Sanitary flax is suitable for use in steam systems and pipelines with fluid temperatures up to 160°C. Sanitary flax is an environmentally friendly and safe product.
GOST 1030-70
Advantages of sanitary flax:
- - Resistance to solar and thermal radiation;
- - Antistatic;
- - High coefficient of friction;
- - Environmentally friendly product.
- - Hygroscopicity - absorption of water vapor from the air;
Application:
Currently, when installing plumbing elements, masters have the ability to seal threaded connections with various materials. Their choice is offered: linen tow, fluoroplastic sealant (fum-tape), anaerobic sealant, plumbing thread, etc.
A very common method that has not lost its relevance over time is plumbing linen, or rather tow based on flax. It is affordable and, when used correctly, does its job very well.
Linen tow, upon contact with water, increases in volume and very densely fills the interturn space of the thread. However, when working with this material, it is necessary to take into account a number of features that you will find in this instruction "".
Consider an example on the connection of a water filter and a water meter mount.
First of all, when choosing linen, pay attention to it appearance . When properly stored, it should be light, with a reflection, without darkening and lumps. A single thread must be tear-resistant, and an unpleasant pungent odor is evidence of antiseptic treatment.
Second. The thread must be prepared before assembly. Inspect the grooves, remove scale, remnants of the former sealant, rust.
Third. Prepare a small strand of flax for a clean thread, iron it, make sure that it is uniform, without lumps. For example, in the photo of the show, the most common thread in everyday life is ½ inch.
Fourth. We wind the strand against the direction of rotation when tightening the thread. Tightly, turn to turn, put the strand into the thread and press the tip.
Fifth. To evenly adhere and protect the linen, a sealant can be applied (for example: silicone, graphite, special paste). We stand for a couple of minutes for impregnation and wrap.
At present, flax is not a morally obsolete means of protecting threads from. The main thing is accuracy and literacy in working with him.
I hope my instruction “How to use plumbing linen correctly” will be useful to a novice home craftsman. Good luck!
Combed flax has long enjoyed a well-deserved reputation as one of the best sealants in plumbing work. This type of compactor is the long fibers of the plant, obtained in the process of combing ragged flax stems. Depending on the length of the fibers and their purity, all the material used is divided into grades. Technical characteristics of sanitary flax depend on its grade and must comply with GOST 10330-76.
Probably everyone knows about how to use plumbing linen. This is a very simple material that does not require special training of the master. However, an incorrectly made connection will not be tight enough. Therefore, you need to know some tricks, how to wind sanitary flax to avoid leaks and not redo the work several times.
GOST 10330-76 regulates the process of production, processing, and sorting of flax used as a seal.
- Depending on the quality, all flax is divided into numbers from 8 to 24. The higher its number, the lower the content of fires and weed impurities in its composition.
- Putrefactive odor and foreign impurities in the mass of fibers are not allowed.
- Permissible moisture content of the material - no more than 12%.
- The temperature of use of sanitary flax is up to 120 degrees. In the case of using some special types of pastes - up to 140 degrees Celsius.
Linen fibers are formed into skeins of various weights and sizes.
Features of the use of flax
Threaded connections of pipelines and connected plumbing equipment are places with a potential risk of depressurization and subsequent leakage. Therefore, during installation, such areas are subjected to additional sealing using various materials, such as fum-tape, sealing threads, various sealing pastes and sealants. However, there is no material more reliable, moreover, time-tested and more than one generation of plumbers than plumbing linen, or the popular name - plumbing tow.
When using flax, you need to know the features of its use:
- tow is a very cheap sealant, much cheaper than any other sealing material. However, when buying it, pay attention to the quality. Good varietal flax is sold in the form of braids or coils, light in appearance, without foreign inclusions.
- linen swells when in contact with water. At the same time, its volume increases, blocking any leaks and leaks.
- due to high mechanical resistance, plumbing tow allows you to orient taps, couplings and other elements without loss of tightness. You can tighten the threaded connection until it stops, and then unscrew it half a turn or a turn along the thread without fear of weakening the contact point.
- sealing the connections of pressure water pipelines with this material makes it possible to firmly fix the connected elements due to the possibility of increased tightening forces.
Threaded connection with seal made of sanitary flax
However, when using sanitary flax, you should also know some precautions.
- When joining copper or brass parts, maximum care is required. Too thick winding can lead to cracking of the part and the appearance of a leak.
- It should be remembered that some materials for processing sanitary flax before use will make it difficult to dismantle the connections. The same problem can occur in the joints of steel parts, where improper work using tow leads to rust in the threaded connections.
- Tow is an organic material that rots when exposed to moisture and air. Therefore, when using it as a sealing material, it requires impregnation with special agents (solid oil, lithol, special pastes and sealants, as well as oil paint).
Water repellents for tow
Due to the resistance of the fibers, sanitary flax cannot be destroyed when twisting plumbing fittings. Thin, long linen fibers are collected in the depths of the threaded channels and, when the parts are connected, they completely fill all the gaps and the slightest leaks. With further use, the fibers closest to the wet area swell, thereby blocking the path for moisture to move out. Connections sealed with sanitary flax are able to withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius.
The method of winding flax on a thread
Before starting work on winding sanitary flax on a threaded connection, it is necessary to carry out some preparatory work.
The threaded part is prepared for winding flax
Thread preparation
If you decide to seal the connected parts of your water supply in this way, you must first prepare the thread itself. The fact is that flax wound on a regular thread will bunch up with a screwed nut. In the threaded connection itself, it will practically not remain. The work will be done poorly, and such a connection is doomed to leak in the very near future. In order for the flax fibers to be fixed on the threads, it is necessary to make notches on them. Notches on threaded turns can be made with any available tool - a chisel, a sharp screwdriver, a file, or, if the place of work allows, even a hacksaw. The notches are made longitudinally, across the threads on the pipe. The main thing is that the notches have sharp, not smooth edges.
You should also be aware that the top of the thread on the pipe must be rounded. Inch threads of pipe connections are cut in this way, with a 55-degree angle at the top. If this requirement is not met, then a 60-degree thread will break the winding. Manufacturers of spurs, fittings, taps and other elements carry out threads taking into account all these requirements, in addition, they apply the necessary notches at the production stage. Such products can be considered fully prepared for winding tow.
How to wind
First, we separate a small strand from the entire mass of tow. No need to choose a very thick beam, try to immediately take the optimal amount of material. The winding should not be very thin, such a connection will be loose. However, too thick a layer of flax will bunch up when tightening the nut, which will also lead to marriage.
If there are lumps or other impurities in the strand, they must be removed. Then you can either twist the strand or weave a pigtail out of it. You can completely fluff the bundle of material before winding. When winding flax on a thread, there are some tricks:
- If you twist or weave a pigtail, you can apply the selected sealant to it before use (special sealing paste, lithol, paint, etc.). Or use the tow as is, then the sealant is applied simply to the thread. In the process of work, you will choose the most suitable option for you. This will not affect the final result.
- It is necessary to wind sanitary flax in the direction opposite to the direction of the threads. For example, with a left thread, flax fibers are wound clockwise, and with a right thread, vice versa.
- You need to start work from the point where the thread exits. The strand is taken in the right hand (the instruction is given for right-handers) and applied to the pipe. With the thumb of the left hand, press the edge of the fibers to the place where the thread enters the pipe. Then, with the first turn of the tow, they try to wind the end of the strand to the pipe, making the so-called “lock”. Then, coil to coil, flax is wound on the threaded part. This should be done without gaps between the fibers, as tight as possible, moving towards the start of the thread. Closer to the edge of the pipe, the thickness of the wound tow must be reduced. So the nut will more easily go onto the threaded part.
- When the winding is completed, the excess tow is separated, its tip is glued with sealant, and then the winding is smoothed flush with the thread.
This is how the correct winding of flax should look like
The ideal option can be considered the case when the maximum force applied to the nut falls on the last 2-3 turns of the thread, and when fully tightened, part of the turns remains outside. If the nut is screwed on by hand, then the winding is made too thin. It is necessary either to add tow on top of it, or to do everything again.
When screwing on the nut, make sure that the tow does not stray to the edge. In some cases, it is better to redo the work.
After carrying out the installation work, the plumbing tow sticking out from under the nuts can be cut or smoothed at the junction. After completion of the installation work, the connections made of ferrous metals must be painted over to protect against corrosion.
Sanitary linen, when used correctly, can provide the most hermetic connection of any elements of water pipes for cold and hot water, regardless of their internal pressure and temperature. However, the work should be carried out carefully, and at the slightest suspicion of a marriage, it should be completely redone. This will give you confidence in the durability and reliability of the connections.
Video about packing a threaded connection using sanitary flax
Linen plumbing is a fiber of natural origin from plants of the flax family, used to increase the reliability of the threaded connection. Linen has found its application in plumbing, as its fibers are very strong, fit tightly with each other, and do not tear during prolonged use. Over time, the fibers of sanitary flax swell from constant humidity, which prevents liquid from flowing at the joints. Flax contains silica, which protects the material from decay. The maximum temperature at which flax can be used reaches 150°C in water systems and in heating systems, and can be used in steam systems.
Sanitary linen is an environmentally friendly product made from thin long fibers of flax, a special combed one, which is obtained from the flax stem. The production of sanitary flax must comply with regulatory documents, it is necessary to test the material for strength.
Linen fiber is wound on a threaded connection as tightly as possible, evenly along the entire length in a clockwise direction. Next, the flax is covered with a special sealing material, and after a few minutes, the connection of the equipment can be completed.
Depending on its quality, sanitary flax fiber is assigned a number, the most purchased ones are No. 8-No. 10.
Sealing material is a sealant for flax . Its use is necessary to ensure perfect tightness of the joints; the use of a sealant will allow, after several operational years, to easily disconnect parts of the pipes. When choosing hermetic pastes, it is necessary to calculate to what values the temperature in the pipes will increase. Since with the wrong choice, the sealant under the action of high temperatures will collapse.
Advantages of using sanitary flax:
- Low cost, sanitary flax is cheaper than any other material for this use. High-quality linen has light shades, it is sold laid in a pigtail, it should not have lumps. The price of sanitary flax depends on the quantity purchased, for example, a package of 50 grams will cost about 50 rubles.
- Universal material, as it is suitable for any kind of connection.
- Has mechanical resistance to friction
- Environmentally friendly material
The disadvantages of sanitary flax appear only in rare cases: with improper installation of the entire system, incorrect laying of fibers, incorrect calculation.
