Technical characteristics of sanitary flax, how to use it, how to wind it. Technical characteristics of sanitary flax, how to use it, how to wind it.
Linen - separately, impregnation - separately...
Even modern editions of SNiPs, developed in the 80s of the last century, do not exclude from circulation such thread sealant as flax strand; it is also often called “plumbing tow”. However, GOSTs require flax to be impregnated with red lead on drying oil. Modern paints do not contain the previous amount of lead, which protected threaded connections from corrosion, and lead lead on drying oil is a composite product, the components of which still have to be looked for. In addition, winding flax or plumbing tow requires a certain amount. Incorrectly wound plumbing linen strand or tow poorly impregnated (especially with the wrong product) will not create the required level of protection for the plumbing connection. Assembly on linen without impregnation is prohibited; plumbing tow must be impregnated! Impregnation with plumbing silicone thread sealant is also prohibited. What are the consequences?
– Early aging of the thread: due to the fact that the tow is impregnated with plumbing thread sealant, wear or corrosion of metal parts occurs.
- Leaks.
– Rupture of connection under pressure.
But this type of sealing also has its advantages:
– When tow or plumbing flax is impregnated with a special paste and experienced handling of flax, the connection will last for quite a long time.
– - cheap and widely available material for sealing threads. Tow can be found in any specialized plumbing store or market.
Flax is an environmentally friendly plant product that does not require certification, so connections on flax strands can be used to seal supply pipelines drinking water. Provided that the tow impregnation is also safe for use in sanitary conditions...
FUM-ido - plumbing code
Instead of flax or plumbing tow, a more modern thread sealant is often used -. Many people ask the question: what is better, fum tape or tow? The quality of the connection on the fum tape largely depends on the quality of the tape itself, so many craftsmen who have unsuccessfully tried to find a decent fum tape more than once prefer to use exclusively flax or tow. Cheap, low-quality winding does not stretch well and breaks easily. Even for an experienced craftsman, such a thread sealant will cause a lot of trouble. Of course, in this case, he will not have a question about what is better for him to use: fum tape or tow; most likely he will prefer a more traditional and proven sealant. Calm, just calm...
When handling fum tape, experience with such a sealant is required, as well as with flax or plumbing tow. The correct winding of the fum tape or the thickness of the layer is selected experimentally, which is also similar to the technology for using tow. Therefore, a beginner will have to spend a lot of time sealing with FUM tape. In addition, when assembling assemblies that require positioning of parts relative to each other, a problem of inconsistency may arise, and unscrewing the fume connection means starting the whole work all over again.
– Fum tape is not used in heating systems due to the cold flow properties of fluoroplastic. Here fum tape is inferior to flax or tow.
– Does not withstand vibration loads, therefore this thread sealant is not used as a seal for pipelines subject to vibration during operation. Both tape and tow occupy the same positions here.
The advantage of this type of sealing material is its high chemical resistance. This allows the use of fum in aggressive environments and in pure oxygen environments.
The pipe will not “make you nervous”
Flax and fum tape have been used in plumbing work for several decades, so they can already be called “old-fashioned.” It is worth saying that each master decides for himself whether fum tape or the old, proven tow is better for him. An alternative to such “old-fashioned” methods using flax and fum tape is a modern method of sealing - plumbing thread impregnated with a special sealing compound. As you know, winding plumbing thread is much more pleasant and easier than using flax or fum tape for these purposes.
In addition, plumbing thread has a number of advantages:
– The synthetic fibers of this sealant (plumbing threads) do not dry out from high temperatures and do not swell under the influence of moisture during plumbing work.
– Even during production, the sanitary thread is impregnated with the optimal amount of sealing compound, so you can be sure that it performs its protective function to the fullest.
– There is no need to clean the threads from sealant (from threads) in case of contamination during plumbing work.
– The material does not require special handling skills. The Record plumbing thread is easily and quickly wound in 10-15 turns, crossing the threaded projections crosswise.
– The thread can withstand pressure 2-3 times higher than plumbing threaded connections on flax.
– Forms quick-disconnect connections.
By the way, assembling a knot using plumbing thread is also several times faster than using flax, which is very important in an emergency situation, and is simply more convenient.
How to wind plumbing thread?
Probably, everyone who picks up a winding machine for the first time asks the question: how to wind plumbing thread? Everything is very simple! To wind a plumbing thread you do not need to put in a lot of effort, as is inherent in winding threads with flax and paste. This does not require special skills or labor. Even an inexperienced craftsman will adapt after the first time and will wind the plumbing thread on the next threaded connection without any problems the next time.
Here is a small instruction that will help you figure out the question: how to wind plumbing thread.
The first turn of thread is fixed closer to the edge of the thread, and the rest is applied in a cross pattern. Upon completion of winding, the connection is twisted. Thus, the wound plumbing thread will reliably seal the threaded connection.
We looked at the three most popular winding methods: linen strand, fum tape and synthetic thread. All of them have the right to use, since in each specific case it is necessary to take into account a number of features of the sealed systems.
| Linen strand | Fum tape | Thread "Record" | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 80-100 rub./100 g. plus impregnation | 200 rub./50 linear m | 245 RUR/50 linear m |
| Ease of use | Experience required | Experience required | No experience required |
| conditions of use | Cannot withstand high pressure, requires impregnation, biodegradable | Do not use in conditions of elevated temperatures, does not decompose | Universal material according to the conditions of use, does not decompose |
| Resistance to aggressive environments | − | + | + |
| Vibration resistance | Average | Very low | High |
| Cleanliness and quality of carving | With restrictions | Demanding | Unpretentious |
| Preparation of material | Requires impregnation treatment | Ready to use | Ready to use |
| Working temperature | Up to +150 | From °C -50 to +120 °C | From °C -60 to +150 °C |
| Connection life | From several months to 5 years | Up to 13 years old | More than 15 years |
The favorite in terms of price is, of course, flax or sanitary tow. His motto could be the slogan: “Cheap and cheerful.” Being a rather demanding and not universal material, it can still claim to be a temporary thread sealant, which it is advisable to replace soon. However, the price of this sealing method may vary depending on the impregnation material (paint, paste, sealant, etc.). Fum tape with an average price of 3.5 rubles/linear. m is a less reliable method of sealing than synthetic thread (plumbing). It will work well for sealing cold “quiet” pipelines (without temperature fluctuations and vibrations).
Rewind "Record", which is a plumbing thread, perhaps best option seals from all presented. This is the most universal sealant, unpretentious and durable for plumbing work, which fully justifies its price.
However, if you need a truly durable and reliable connection, universal to all aggressive environments, what to choose? When choosing a sealant, it is also important to remember that in some cases it is better to seek help from an anaerobic sealant. For example, all windings - flax, fum and plumbing thread - are well suited for notched or roughly cut threads, but not suitable for smooth threads or for conical threads - they slip off. European threads are often found "smooth". Here, winding or thread will no longer help; you need plumbing sealant.
That's how many modern materials there are for sealing joints, but good old flax does not give up its position.
What is his task? Plumbing flax allows you to fill as tightly as possible all the free space inside the thread. To withstand mechanical loads and temperature deformations during operation.
What is needed for this? Master skill. High quality material and quality carving.
Thread. Or rather, its preparation. May be good master, but get a leak on an unprepared thread. The thread must be serrated. The flax must cling to something when screwing the thread into the coupling. On a smooth thread, there is a high chance that the flax will slip into the end of the thread.
Therefore, on a smooth thread you will have to apply the notches yourself.
You can scratch the thread for this. For this purpose, pieces of hacksaw blade, broken drills, files, etc. are used. But be careful, you can easily get hurt.
I bite the threads with plumbing pliers. It turns out quickly and accurately. Someone might argue that this could squeeze the thin-walled fitting and ruin it.
Very good. I’d rather crush it than for it to crumple inside the coupling later.
More. Before winding flax, it is necessary to assemble the connection dry, without flax. First, you will see how the thread is screwed in. It may be tight or skewed. Secondly, count the number of revolutions. This helps a lot when screwing on angles, tees, taps, eccentrics and other oriented fittings.
Screwed in? Have you checked? Have you counted the revolutions? Great. Let's take flax.
Flax comes in braids, in balls, and on spools. How it is rolled up and sold makes no difference. Main. Linen must be clean. That is, there should be no debris or tangled lumps in it.
Separate a strand of flax. It is difficult to say what the thickness of the strand should be. It all depends on the diameter of the thread and the length of the flax. The guideline is something like this - after winding, the thread should not be visible.
In order to achieve strength and tightness of the connection, builders and plumbers use flax or special linen tow in their work, which is wound onto the threads of the joint elements.
To achieve the truly desired results, it is important to know how to wind flax on threads correctly.
Instructions on how to wind flax on a thread
In order to properly wind flax on a thread you will need:
- tow (linen);
- silicone;
- plumbing key.
Prepare the connecting elements by first cleaning them from rust, if any. For this you can use fine grit sandpaper. When removing rust, be careful not to damage the threads.
Take the tow and separate a small strip of fibers from the main bundle, which you straighten along its entire length. There should be enough fiber to make the connection dense, but not tight, otherwise when the temperature rises, for example, in a heating pipe, the connection may simply burst. In addition, excess flax will be squeezed out of the threaded connection during assembly, and this will almost certainly cause a new leak.
Please note that pipelines with screw-cut threads, as a rule, have a fairly rough surface, but fittings with a smooth surface need to be prepared. To do this, use a plumber's wrench or a triangular file to apply small notches over the threads.
Take the flax and place the end of the fiber against the very edge of the thread. Start winding the tow in the opposite direction from tightening the nut. It should be wound in such a way that each subsequent turn tightly presses the previous one. If there is not enough flax fiber to cover the entire thread, take another bunch.
Apply a thin layer of silicone or special paste on top of the fiber that is wound on the thread: this will ensure a tight connection.
Tighten the threads while the silicone has not yet polymerized. Remember, there are 8-10 minutes until the end of this chemical reaction. There is no point in securing the small amount of tow that will remain outside the joint - the sealant will hold the flax well. However, plumbers who work with metal pipes sometimes simply burn the end of the bundle. Doing this at home is not recommended.
When repairing a pipeline, the main requirement is the tightness of the connections. The functionality and trouble-free operation of plumbing, heating, gas and other systems depend on them. How is tightness achieved?
Most often, when installing and repairing a water supply system, a threaded connection is used - it is inexpensive, fast and practical. With just a wrench on hand, a plumber can easily disassemble and reassemble the system and replace a failed unit. But the thread does not guarantee that the connection will be perfect; some other sealing component is needed.
What sealants does the building materials market offer?
There are several types of sealing materials that differ in cost, ease of use and reliability of use:
- FUM tape (fluoroplastic sealing material)
- Sealing thread
- Linen thread
Among all the FUM proposals, tape is quite difficult to use, sealing thread has good qualities, but is too expensive, and only flax is an impeccable product that has proven itself over many decades.
How to properly wind flax on a thread?
To ensure a strong and tight connection, the threaded areas must be cleaned of rust using fine-grained sandpaper. At this stage it is important not to damage the threads. Then you should check whether there are notches on the thread - with them, the laid flax threads are fixed and do not move when connecting the parts. If there are no notches, they can be applied with a file or a plumbing wrench.
Proper winding of flax consists of several steps:
- Check the tightness of the connection with a clean, flax-free thread to understand how thick the winding should be.
- Take a bunch of flax and separate a strand of sufficient thickness from it to obtain a tight connection. The flax hairs should be the same length, without lumps, straw or debris.
- Twist the strand into a loose rope of such thickness that it can fill one thread groove.
- Holding the end of the flax rope at the edge of the thread, wind it in the direction opposite to the screw of the nut. Each subsequent turn should fit tightly to the previous one. It is important here not to overdo it with the number of layers, there should be no more than two, otherwise the connection may burst when twisted or from hot water during operation. If the bundle is short, winding should be continued with the next bundle.
- Inspect the reverse side of the winding and make sure there are no bald spots.
- Apply a layer of special paste or silicone on top of the flax and tighten the connection until the paste hardens. The use of a sealing composition contributes to the durability of the connection, prevents rotting of the flax, and makes it easy to disassemble the structure in the future. Sealant should not be used as a sealant; such a connection is difficult to disassemble.
Using a sealant when threading pipe systems is easy. This approach does not require the use of expensive equipment, and can be easily performed by both a professional and a home plumber.
Not everyone knows that tow is also called plumbing flax, but the fact that it serves as an excellent sealed connector for any threaded element is familiar to many. In addition, a novice plumber may be confused by such a simple procedure as winding flax around butt joints. Let's consider the process of correctly winding tow, so that in the future you will not have to redo any work in which it was involved.
It doesn’t matter what needs to be connected to each other - when doing plumbing or any other work, the elements of the threaded connection must be sealed to create a tightness. IN in this case A classic and cheap option for winding is tow. It is suitable for absolutely any type of joint elements, if, of course, it is wound correctly. The advantages of this seal also include the fact that during service it swells and increases in volume. This ability will help close any leak, even if it forms immediately after connection. However, winding tow requires some skill, taking into account some points. About this process and we'll talk below. First, pay attention to the type of thread. They come in two main types - clean thread (without notches) and thread with notches (notches). In the first case, tightness will not be achieved even by winding flax, because it will simply slide and bunch up in the process of fastening the elements. Therefore, first prepare the thread - take any available tool (hacksaw, needle file, pliers, etc.) and make notches on the smooth thread yourself. Now the flax fibers will cling perfectly to the artificially created notches.
If the winding of the flax was carried out correctly, taking into account the required thickness of the twisted rope, its uniform and careful distribution along the thread turns, without gaps - the threaded connection will serve you as long and stably as possible.
