How to wind flax under the lock nut. Thread sealing with flax

1. Appointment of tow and how it works.
2. Varieties of sealing materials.
3. Sealing technique pipe thread tow.
In plumbing work, tow is used to seal pipes and transitions connected by threads. It is made mainly from flax waste and is a coarse fiber of small size. If the tow is wound correctly, leakage protection will be provided throughout the life of the pipeline. Answering the question of how to wind tow on a thread, it should be said that the quality of workmanship prevents the risk of a leak in the plumbing system.
There is a gap between the threaded connections through which water freely exits the pipeline. If there is a properly laid plumbing tow in it, then the gap becomes smaller, and in the process of water penetration into such a connection, the flax swells and the leak stops.

Variety of sealing materials.

The main materials that create an airtight layer between threaded connections include:
- plumbing tow;
- FUM tape;
- liquid FUM.
Silicone is used as additional material to tow, but by itself, due to its properties, will not be able to provide reliable protection leak connections.
FUM is a thread winder consisting of a Teflon tape that is not wetted by water and creates a water-repellent layer in the joints.
Liquid FUM - one-component sealant of blue color, upon contact with air, it slowly hardens and forms a sufficiently strong and dense aggregate, which prevents the outflow of water from the system. But, if when using the above materials, pressure testing of the water supply can be done immediately, then after applying the liquid FUM, before checking the system, you need to wait a certain time, depending on the diameter and ambient temperature.

Method for sealing pipe threads with tow.

High-quality thread winding is carried out using the following materials and tools:
- pipe lever keys in the amount of two pieces;
- plumbing tow;
- FUM tapes.

We will consider the procedure for obtaining a high-quality tight threaded connection using the example of combining a union nut (American) with an external thread of 1 inch and a check valve.
From the tow we separate a strand with a length approximately equal to 5 - 7 turns of a diameter of 1 inch and a density indicated in the photo.

We apply the resulting workpiece to the beginning of the connecting element of the American, while its thread should be directed towards you, and wind it clockwise, along the turns and vice versa. We bring the end of the tow to the beginning of the thread and with our fingers, clockwise, smooth it down. As a result, it should turn out as in the photo.

Then, on this part, we wind the FUM clockwise so that it completely overlaps the plumbing linen and lies on it in 2 - 3 layers.

Teflon tape prevents the tow from turning and moving off the part. Making money on the American check valve and with the help of keys we tighten them until a noticeable load occurs.

Such a combined thread winding, with appropriate skill, almost always ensures a reliable connection of two detachable elements of the pipeline. When all components of the system are assembled, it is necessary to pressurize it at a pressure of approximately 1 bar and inspect all threaded connections for leaks.
When using low-quality parts, the amount of winding should be slightly reduced, since during the swelling of flax, forces arise that can lead to damage to the part.

The debate about what is better to use as a sealant for threaded connections (winding) - flax or fum-tape - has not subsided for more than one year. This situation is explained by the fact that it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to this question. For each type of work, either flax or fum tape is preferable. And often the recommendation of one does not exclude the use of an alternative sealant. If plumbers cannot come to a common opinion among themselves, then what can we say about non-professionals? But after all, even mere mortals sometimes need to connect something with each other. And it's hermetically sealed. Let's try to sort out the recommendations "on the shelves". On the properties of the fum-tape and the technology of its winding. And today our review is devoted to flax, or tow, for plumbing.

The content of the article:

Sanitary flax: cheap and cheerful

Linen is a classic winding. Sometimes it is called tow in the old fashioned way.

Advantages of flax for plumbing work:

• Low price. Cheaper than any other winding. When buying, you need to pay attention to quality. Good flax is sold in a pigtail or not a tight bay, has no lumps, is clean (light in appearance).

• Versatility. Suitable for any kind of connections. Of course, with the right winding.

• The ability to increase volume in the process of swelling. That is, if immediately after the connection there is a small leak, it very soon "closes" itself. Flax fibers get wet and, swelling, block small leaks.

• Mechanical resistance. The only material that allows you to more accurately orient sanitary fittings. It is possible, if necessary, to make a half-turn-turn back without loss of tightness.

But there are also disadvantages:

• Mandatory use of related materials with it (lithol, grease, fum-let, sealed paste, silicone, Oil paint). Linen is of organic origin. And like any organic matter, it has a tendency to rot, especially under the combined influence of water and air. And the air enters the water supply or heating systems during the repair or routine inspection, which should be carried out annually. The accompanying material is designed to prevent rotting.

• Requires special thread preparation. Many manufacturers of fittings make the threads on them already prepared under the winding of flax. The threads are notched. If they are not there, then they need to be applied to plumbing (with a file, pliers, less often with a hacksaw). They are needed so that linen, in the process of joining, does not slip along the threads and does not come true in a bundle.

• Requires care in brass and bronze connections. Too thick a layer can break the thread, cracks will appear.

• Plumbing flax is the only material that is very demanding in terms of winding rules. In addition to the already mentioned preparation of the thread, you need to prepare the flax itself: impregnate it with related material to prevent decay. Then wind, observing the direction of the threads, that is, against winding. Bring the ends of the fibers out of the thread area, tighten and, holding them with your finger, screw the connection onto the thread, tighten.

• The disadvantages include the fact that the accompanying materials (not all) prevent the dismantling of connections (for example, to replace part of the system, connect new elements or in the event of a leak). Silicone and paint stick the parts of the joint together so that the process of separation can be quite difficult, sometimes simply impossible. The same problems arise when separating steel elements, when, not properly wound flax (or without accompanying material) as a result of rotting, allows rust to occur in threaded connection.

Which is better: linen or fum-tape?

When it comes to sealing threaded joints, the first thought that comes to mind is plumbing. When installing plumbing for cold water from steel pipes neither flax nor fum tape has clear advantages. The main thing is to wind the seal correctly. But when this water supply is mounted from or, a fum tape is preferable. Its advantage in this case is due to speed. Non-metallic plumbing is mounted faster than steel. And to reduce the speed of installation only because of winding (and winding flax is more difficult and longer) is not effective. In addition, the thread of the fittings is even and neat, and in such conditions the fum tape is more effective. But it should be remembered that when connecting fittings with a diameter greater than 20 mm, the fum-tape is inferior in sealing quality. In such compounds, sanitary flax is more effective.

Plumbing installation for hot water and heating dictates its requirements. Including in terms of winding. In addition to the presence of water in the pipes, it must be borne in mind that it is hot. That is, the winding must not only be airtight, but also withstand the effects of temperature. Fum-tape in this regard has proven itself not in the best way. At the moment of connection, the fum-tape splits into fibers and they clog the voids of the connection, clogging the passages for water. Under the influence of high temperatures, which must be present in the heating system and are possible in the hot water system, these fibers shrink. Often this is enough for a leak to occur. Linen is resistant to temperature.

If we take into account other properties of these materials, then it is worth noting the low cost of flax, even taking into account the accompanying material. Fum tape is more expensive. Not by much, but when carrying out large-scale work, this difference can be significant. But the use of fum tape, as already noted, increases the speed of installation.

There are also cases when the combination of linen and fum tape is the most effective. Coils of fum tape are laid with flax fibers. Or vice versa, one or two turns of fum tape are wound over a linen winding. The decision on this is not often made by plumbers, in view of the particular conditions of installation or operation of the pipeline.

And the last thing - winding flax requires a certain skill from the plumber. Fum tape is not so demanding on this process.

Photo: depositphotos.com

How to wind flax on a thread?

Before you start winding flax, you need to prepare the thread. The fact is that on a clean and even thread, flax in the process of joining may not be able to hold on, slide off, stray into a bundle. Of course, there can be no question of any sealing in this case. The threads should have notches for which the flax fibers will catch. This will allow the winding to stay in place and ensure a tight seal. These notches are applied with a needle file, a file, and if possible, with a hacksaw. In extreme cases, you can strongly squeeze the thread in a circle with pliers, the ribbed jaws will leave notches on the threads. Fitting manufacturers often produce threads already prepared for plumbing linen.

Then a strand of fibers is separated from the flax pigtail. It is important to choose a strand of suitable thickness so that the winding is not thin and not too thick. There should be no lumps in the strand: if there are, they must be removed. Some plumbers twist a strand of flax fibers before winding, someone weaves thin braids, and someone winds the strand as it is, loose. It doesn't matter who cares. It does not affect the final result.

There are two options for the next steps. You can apply an accompanying material to the thread, wind dry flax fibers and then apply another layer of material. And you can wind the strands of flax already impregnated with the accompanying substance. In terms of efficiency, there is no difference between these methods. The result will be the same.

In any case, you need to wind the turns of flax in the direction of the thread. The end of the strand is clamped with a finger outside the thread, the first turn is made with a “lock”. That is, it is superimposed with a cross to clamp the end. Then the strand is wound as tight as possible, coil to coil, without gaps. At the end of the winding, the end of the strand is glued to the accompanying material closer to the edge of the thread.

In our everyday life, sooner or later, each of us has to do minor repairs, in which we need to wind the thread with flax. Most often this applies to a radiator or plumbing. Faced with such a problem home master it is desirable to have skills in the use of flax (tow). Such knowledge will certainly be useful to each of us.

It is known that pipes for water supply are made of materials such as metal, plastic, as well as metal-plastic and nylon. In all of them, regardless of the material, there are necessarily adapters for connecting other pipes. Below, we will talk about such joints, we will take a closer look at how flax is used for this.

Home craftsmen over time, sooner or later, may be faced with the question of how to rewind the threads of a water tap. You should be aware that for a hermetic connection of a pipe with water supply elements, there is a so-called method of doing work, “packing threaded connections” for which flax is used.

In the case where there is a need to pack two pipes at right angles with a coupling, then the best option would be at their ends. The coupling itself will consist of threads inside and turns on the outside. Just twisting them together will be incomplete. In this case, it is recommended to seal the thread for a competent and reliable connection.

Linen - pros and cons

Advantages of the material for plumbing work:

1. Affordable price compared to other sealing materials. But when purchasing, it is necessary to choose only high-quality linen. As a rule, high-quality material is supplied in a pigtail or loose coil. Also pay attention to the presence of lumps, they should not be.
2. It is distinguished by its versatility, as it is possible to carry out any work related to threaded connections. Accordingly, if you wind flax correctly.
3. Before winding flax on a threaded connection, you should pay attention to the fact that this material is able to swell, as it absorbs moisture. Such characteristics greatly increase the tightness, since the leakage will not have paths.
4. Also, this material has a high mechanical stability, which makes it possible to adjust plumbing without losing hermetic properties. The connections themselves can be unscrewed by a full turn or unscrewed by a half turn.

If you have a question about how to wind flax on a thread, then be sure to familiarize yourself with its disadvantages in this material.

Disadvantages when using:

1. Since the substance that forms its basis is organic, it means that it is susceptible to decay when exposed to moisture and air. They can get inside during preventive examinations. To avoid such problems, additional material is added to the tow to prevent the process of decay. Such an addition may be a sealing paste, grease or lithol.
2. In some cases, before proceeding with winding, it is imperative that you first carve, prepare, clean and. Most manufacturers of pipes and fittings produce a threaded connection already fully prepared for further work, that is, under the winding of flax. On the threaded coils, special notches are made to prevent the flax from slipping along the threads and so that the flax does not gather into a bundle. If there are no notches, then it is up to the plumber to apply them with a file or just a knife.
3. In addition, you need to remember that you should not settle the material with a very thick layer, as this will cause damage to the joints, and this is especially true for brass and bronze.
4. If suddenly you are faced with a situation where knowledge of working with flax is required from you, then you must definitely remember that this sealing material from the master requires certain knowledge regarding competent winding.
5. There are a number of materials that, when used together with flax, significantly complicate the disassembly itself. These include and. In some cases, additions to this kind of installation procedure make it simply impossible.
6. Also, you can not use flax, where the temperature indicator can reach 90 degrees. Due to the fact that the material in such places is simply welded, while losing its sealing properties. When working with steel, it is also necessary to adhere to the right technology winding, as if it is not observed, the thread is subject to corrosion.

How to seal a new thread

Before proceeding with the winding of a new thread with flax, it is necessary to prepare the turns beforehand. Today whole line manufacturers produce fittings with already cut finished threads and with the presence of special notches for winding flax. You should be aware that on a smooth thread, the material will simply slip off and also bunch up into a bundle, which will certainly lead to a leak. The fibers will be able to catch well only if there are notches on the turns.

Such notches can be applied with an ordinary file and a hacksaw for metal or with a needle file. Some craftsmen use a plumbing key for this, and even pliers. To do this, the thread is wrapped around, and serifs are applied with a light touch. Performing this procedure, try to achieve roughness on the turns.

Before winding the flax on the thread, you need to separate one strand from the whole pigtail. Here it is very important to take the required number of fibers in order to get a winding that is not so thin, but do not forget that it should not be thick. As a rule, experts recommend just such a thickness that would correspond to one or two matches. If there are lumps or small villi in the strand, then all this should be removed.

Work performance rules

Linen can be wound onto threads using its own technology. Options may vary. So some masters twist it in the form of a tourniquet, others simply braid it into an ordinary pigtail, or you can optionally impose it in the way of a loose thread.

Additional lubricant (paste) can also be applied in different ways. You can, for example, smear only a clean thread and then wrap it with fibers. Then apply another additional layer. As an option, soak the fibers well in advance and prepare them after.

If circumstances force you to think about how to properly wind the tow onto the thread, and at the same time you want to understand exactly how to do it clockwise or counterclockwise, then it is best for you to listen to the opinions of specialists. Here can be used different variants. So some wind this strand along the thread, while others act on the contrary.

Be sure to press the end of the strand outside the turns with your finger and, making the first turn, it should be in the form of a cross, which will make it possible to fix the material. It should not leave any gaps. The coils must be laid one to the other. In the case when you make a connection, the used excess material will be squeezed out of the fitting.

But this is when you work with a steel coupling and an iron pipe. Concerning brass connections, will refer to those that are manufactured using modern technologies and under strong pressure they burst.

On the linen wrapped around it, you need to apply a special paste intended for plumbing, or any other material for sealing is also allowed. It is applied in a circular motion. This procedure should be done as carefully as possible. The other end is glued closer to the edge of the thread, and before tightening, make sure that the pipe lumen is not filled with sealing material.

After reading these recommendations, you have an idea about the winding of this seal. You can also see photos of such works in the article. But with all this, it will be difficult for you to figure out that you need to twist all the elements with a certain little effort. In the case, say, when the nut goes easily, this indicates that there is not enough flax. High-quality winding is when the linen itself does not come out, and the entire surface around such a connection remains clean.

You should also be aware that organic tow is not used for gas connections. The reason for this is that when exposed to gas, such tow and silicone used additionally simply collapse. It will be justified in such cases to use a fum tape, in the previous article we already wrote,.

Working with ecoplastic

If you have a question about how to use flax for this type of sanitary material, then in this case it would be good to use a special technology that is used when working with ecoplastic products. It is worth knowing that this material, like brass, can burst. It is important not to overdo it when working with him.

Before starting work, both fittings must be connected to each other while counting the number of revolutions. Flax is wound evenly and its entire surface must be smeared with additional lubricant and already, then it will be possible to connect both fittings. If you have counted idle 5 turns, then after winding the flax, it will be correct to make approximately 4.5 turns and, which is very important, you do not need to press it to the end. Best of all in this situation, instead of using a sealant, packing paste.

Often at home, craftsmen have to wonder how to competently wind the tape around the threaded connection of an old pipe. In such situations, the best option is to dismantle the connections and inspect the threads at the same time.

As for the turns, you need to walk along them with the tip of a knife blade or you can use an awl. So you clean the threads of the debris formed on them, and this will help, for example, remove old paint from iron. Before winding the tape, carefully clean the turns with a wire brush until a shine is formed.

Video: How to wind flax

Linen - separately, impregnation - separately ...

Even modern editions of SNiPs, developed in the 80s of the last century, do not exclude from circulation such a thread sealant as linen strand, it is also often called "sanitary tow". However, GOSTs prescribe to impregnate flax with red lead on drying oil. Modern paints do not contain the same amount of lead that protected threaded connections from corrosion, and red lead on drying oil is a composite product, the components of which will still have to be looked for. In addition, winding flax or plumbing tow requires a certain amount. An incorrectly wound linen plumbing strand or tow poorly impregnated (especially with an unsuitable agent) will not create the necessary level of protection for the plumbing connection. Assembly on flax 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 the connection under pressure.

But this type of sealing also has advantages:

- When impregnating tow or sanitary flax with a special paste and experienced handling of flax, the connection will last for quite a long time.
- - cheap and widely available material for thread sealing. Tow can be found in any specialized plumbing store or in the market.

Flax is an environmentally friendly plant product that does not require certification, so connections on a flax strand can be used to seal supply pipelines drinking water. Provided that the impregnation of tow is also safe when used in sanitary conditions ...

FUM-ido - plumbing code

Instead of flax or plumbing tow, a more modern thread sealant is often used. Many people ask themselves: 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 repeatedly unsuccessfully tried to find a decent fum tape prefer to use linen or tow exclusively. Cheap low-grade 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 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 necessary, however, as well as with flax or plumbing tow. The correct winding of the fum tape or the thickness of the layer are selected empirically, which is also similar to the technology of 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 mismatch problem may arise, and unwinding the fum connection means starting all over again.

- Fum-tape is not used in heating systems due to the cold flow properties of fluoroplast. Here the fum tape is inferior to linen or tow.
– Does not withstand vibration loads, therefore this thread sealant is not used as a sealant for pipelines subjected to vibrations 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.

The pipe will not "make you nervous"

Flax and fum-tape have been used in plumbing for several decades, so they can already be called "grandfather". It is worth saying that each master decides for himself what fum tape is better for him or all the same the old proven tow. An alternative to such "old-fashioned" methods using linen and fum tape is modern way sealing - plumbing threadimpregnated 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 thread) do not dry out from high temperatures and do not swell under the action of moisture during plumbing work.
- The plumbing thread is impregnated with the optimal amount of sealing compound during production, so you can be sure that it performs protective function fully.
– It is not required to clean the thread from the sealant (from the thread) in case of contamination in plumbing work.
– The material does not require special handling skills. Plumbing thread "Record" is easily and quickly wound in 10-15 turns, crosswise crossing the threaded protrusions.
- The thread withstands pressure 2-3 times higher than plumbing threaded connections on linen.
– Forms quick disconnect connections.

By the way, assembling a knot on a plumbing thread is also several times faster than on flax, which is very important in an emergency, and it’s just more convenient.

How to wind plumbing thread?

Probably, everyone who picks up a winder for the first time asks the question: how to wind a plumbing thread? Everything is very simple! To wind a plumbing thread, you do not need to put a lot of effort, as is inherent in winding a thread with flax and paste. This does not require special skills and labor. Even an inexperienced master will adapt after the first time and will wind the plumbing thread next time on the next threaded connection without any problems.

Here is a small instruction that will help you deal with the question: how to wind a plumbing thread.

The first turn of the thread is fixed closer to the edge of the thread, and the rest is applied crosswise. Upon completion of the 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 for: linen strand, fum tape and synthetic thread. All of them have the right to be used, 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 rubles / 100 gr. plus impregnation	200 rubles / 50 linear meters m	245 rubles / 50 linear meters m
Ease of use	Experience Required	Experience Required	No experience required
application conditions	Can't stand high pressure, requires impregnation, biodegradable	Do not use at elevated t °, does not decompose	Universal material according to the conditions of use, does not decompose
Resistance to aggressive environments	−	+	+
Vibration resistance	Medium	Very low	High
Thread cleanliness and quality	With restrictions	Demanding	unpretentious
Material preparation	Requires impregnating treatment	Ready to use	Ready to use
Working temperature	Up to +150	From °С -50 to +120 °С	From °С -60 to +150 °С
Connection life	Several months to 5 years	Up to 13 years old	Over 15 years

The favorite for the price is, of course, flax or plumbing tow. Its motto could be the slogan: "Cheap and cheerful." Being a rather demanding and not universal material, it can, nevertheless, claim the role of a temporary thread sealant, which it is desirable to soon replace with a more modern one. However, the price of this sealing method may vary depending on the impregnation material (paint, paste, sealant, etc.). Fum tape at an average price of 3.5 rubles / rm. m is a less reliable sealing method than a synthetic thread (plumbing). It will serve well for sealing cold "calm" pipelines (without temperature fluctuations and vibrations).

Winding "Record", which is a plumbing thread, perhaps the best option seals from all presented. This is the most versatile sealant, unpretentious and durable in plumbing work, which fully justifies its price.

However, if you need really 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 coarsely cut threads, but are not suitable for smooth and for taper thread- slide off. European threads are often found "smooth". Here, winding or thread will no longer save, you need a plumbing sealant.

A reliable connection is provided by modern anaerobic sealants, which are easy to use and much more economical than other methods of sealing in terms of one fitting. You can purchase such sealants from us directly from the manufacturer or at the nearest store, the address of which can be specified in the "" section.

When repairing a pipeline, the main requirement is the tightness of the joints. 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 hand wrench, the plumber can easily disassemble and assemble the system, replace the failed node. 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, convenience and reliability of use:

• FUM tape (fluoroplastic sealing material)
• Sealing thread
• linen thread

Among all the FUM offers, the tape is quite capricious in use, the sealing thread has good qualities, but too expensive, and only linen is an impeccable remedy that has proven itself over many decades.

How to wind flax on a thread?

In order for the connection to be strong and tight, the threaded areas must be cleaned of rust with fine-grained sandpaper. At this stage, it is important not to damage the threads. Then you should check if there are notches on the thread - the laid flax threads are fixed with them and do not move when the parts are connected. If there are no notches, they can be applied with a file or a plumbing wrench.

The correct winding of flax consists of several steps:

• Check the tightness of the connection with a clean, linen-free thread in order 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. Flax hairs should be of the same length, without lumps, straw and debris.
• Twist from a strand a loose tourniquet of such a thickness that it can fill one groove of the thread.
• Holding the end of the linen tow at the edge of the thread, wind it in the direction opposite to the tightening of the nut. Each subsequent turn should fit snugly 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 turned out to be short, the winding should be continued with the next bundle.
• Inspect the reverse side of the winding and make sure there are no bald spots.
• On top of the linen, apply a layer of special paste or silicone and twist the connection until the paste has hardened. The use of a sealing compound contributes to the durability of the connection, prevents rotting of the flax, and helps to easily disassemble the structure in the future. Sealant should not be used as a sealant, such a connection is difficult to disassemble.

The use of a sealant in threaded connection of piping systems is simple. This approach does not require the use of expensive equipment, and can be easily performed by both a professional and a home plumber.