Compression Fittings - compound or not?

[Ganglandboss]

There's no needs for anything on a compression fitting, and contrary to popular belief, 'PTFE' does not stand for 'Put This F**king Everywhere'. On a compression fitting, the seal is formed by the inside face and the outside face where it mates with the body of the fitting. Wrapping it in PTFE serves no purpose whatsoever.

[Sheepshanks]

I've seen people put a couple of turns on the tube and then slide the olive over it, then a couple of turns around the olive. Seems a faff to me but I wouldn't have thought it would do any harm, although I've seen it suggested it could interfere with the olive compressing properly.

[JM]

I've never had to use tape or paste on new compression fittings.


Did have to use some tape on an old olive on a new valve body on Thursday.

[james7]

Ganglandboss said:

contrary to popular belief, 'PTFE' does not stand for 'Put This F**king Everywhere'

Correct. It stands for Plastic Tape For Engineers

I always use this
http://www.plumbcenter.co.uk/product/center-center...

Works well, easy to use, not at all messy and wont run out of the pot and ruin the nearest carpet if you knock it over.
Also it can be used on everything ie hot water, cold water, drinking water, gas and best of all it does not set hard so you can get the fittings apart again in the future.

[DrDeAtH]

I use a smear of Jet Blue on compression fittings also. Nowt wrong with belt and braces.

[Ashtray83]

Ganglandboss said:

There's no needs for anything on a compression fitting, and contrary to popular belief, 'PTFE' does not stand for 'Put This F**king Everywhere'. On a compression fitting, the seal is formed by the inside face and the outside face where it mates with the body of the fitting. Wrapping it in PTFE serves no purpose whatsoever.

Hence JET-lUBE clue is in the title

[Ilovejapcrap]

you should need nothing but the olive, this trend for sticking PTFE around it is just odd.

[V8RX7]

jas xjr said:

why should i avoid ptfe tape ? i tend not to use jointing compound as i manage to gwet it everywhere. genuine question

People put it around the threads - and they aren't what seals so that's wrong.

People put too much elsewhere and it can clog things.

A little around the olive can seal a leak but really you shouldn't need anything hence on new joints I don't use anything, on old ones I use a little around the olive.

[jas xjr]

i try to re-use old fittings, that is where problems tend to arise. i cannot recall ever having a problem with a new fitting.
no cure for being poor

[Boosted LS1]

As an aside, I've noticed compression joints on some of my gas pipes. There aren't any leaks but is that allowable? Or have rules changed?

[bimsb6]

Boosted LS1 said:

As an aside, I've noticed compression joints on some of my gas pipes. There aren't any leaks but is that allowable? Or have rules changed?

I thought compression were reqd inside on gas as in a fire the solder fittings could come apart , thats what we were told on our oil boiler ( not gas i know but same reason)