Ok, I am happy to report!!! I tore everything apart, cleaned all threads with a pick and rag, then reassembled with the yellow tape (much thicker than the white stuff) using my thumbnail to trace and push the tape into all threads, then put a good layer of pipe dope over the tape, then put each joint in my bench vice and really tightened each joint really hard (at least 3 to 5 more complete turns than the last two times) with my new pipe wrench. This system is now rock solid and air-tight as a drum! I gave it the soap bubble test and not a single bubble, even with full pressure left on for 4 hours. I am very happy with the results!!! Thank you to everyone for all the help and advice. I can also say that each time I took it apart I made a couple changes that made the system better, so no all a waste of time either. This is just the initial plumbing off of the compressor into the filter and regulator then into 3 distribution legs. Now I am ready to order the piping to plumb the rest of the system in my garage.
Bubbles when checking connections in airlines
- Thread starter DRJZ1974
- Start date
Yes, I agree! There was way more room to tighten than I originally thought. Learned a lot from this initial phase of the project.
Good to hear!
Now that you have a feel for how tight they should be and how much tape and dope to use, you'll have far less trouble assembling pipe in the future.
I will also never buy the cheap thread tape ever again. The yellow stuff was 3x as much money, but when we are talking $1 or $3, not a big deal. The yellow stuff was also way easier to manage, didn't want to fold up and crinkle on itself like the thin white stuff.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I think the purchase of a pipe wrench was a major part of your solution, and that the type of tape you are using was a minor part of the solution. I agree to get the better tape, but I don't think any tape or dope would have sealed that pipe until it was properly tightened.
Now that you have a pipe wrench you have to just how much tightening is needed. It sounds like you have things way tighter than they have to be. Next time get it fairly snug but stop turning when you get the alignment that you need, and give it a try.
Chris
Now that you have a pipe wrench you have to just how much tightening is needed. It sounds like you have things way tighter than they have to be. Next time get it fairly snug but stop turning when you get the alignment that you need, and give it a try.
Chris
bgott
Well-known member
You learned the important part about plumbing. Get it tight! The threads are were the seal is made, "sealers" are just a lubricant and an anti- seize.If you put enough *** to good threads they will seal without any kind of goop.