The traditional material in the new workshop is sanitary linen. How to correctly and securely wind flax onto plumbing connections Flax connections

So, in order, the information is confirmed by test reports from leading manufacturers of polystyrene concrete, I drew a conclusion for myself and wrote it at the end of the commentary. MOISTURE RESISTANCE and HYGROSCOPICITY This is the most important property of any building material, especially in areas with high humidity. The higher the moisture resistance of the material, the more durable, stable and warmer it is. Polystyrene concrete absorbs no more than 6% moisture from the atmosphere; it can be exposed to open air almost unlimited time. STRENGTH Due to the super-strong cement-polystyrene matrix, polystyrene concrete has unique strength characteristics. This material is so durable that a fall from a five-story building will not cause significant damage to the block. FIRE RESISTANCE Polystyrene concrete does not burn; it is able to withstand enormous temperatures caused by fire, due to its unique thermal conductivity coefficient, and does not allow heat to penetrate deep into the wall. Flammability class NG. Fire resistance class EI180. DURABILITY The service life of a house made of polystyrene concrete is at least 100 years. Over the years, the strength of polystyrene concrete only increases. FROST RESISTANCE Tests for frost resistance and the amplitude of temperature fluctuations from + 75°C to - 30°C were carried out on 150 freeze-thaw cycles without loss of integrity and heat-insulating ability. THERMAL INSULATION It has long been recognized that polystyrene (foam) is the best thermal insulator in the world; it is warmer even than wood! A house made of polystyrene concrete does not require insulation: it is cool in summer and warm in winter. SOUND INSULATION Polystyrene concrete provides best indicator in terms of noise absorption, 18-20 cm dampens 70 decibels of sound. Consequently, a house made of polystyrene concrete has special comfort: noise from the street and inside is not disturbed. neighboring rooms and bathrooms. ECONOMICAL Cost square meter a finished wall is cheaper than other materials. Due to high level heat preservation, walls made of polystyrene concrete can be built 25% thinner than those made of alternative materials (aerated concrete and foam concrete) and 4 times thinner than those made of brick. Saving on wall thickness leads to overall savings on the construction of the box (foundation, roof and walls) of up to 50%. At the same time, the quality of the house will be even higher, and the house itself will be warmer. EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE Seismic resistance 9-12 points. Polystyrene concrete has not only compressive strength, but also the highest tensile and bending strength. Therefore, polystyrene concrete is considered the most reliable and earthquake-resistant material. LIGHTWEIGHT A large-sized block of 200x300x600 mm does not exceed a weight of 17 kg, which facilitates the work of a mason and reduces the time for laying walls: it replaces 20 bricks in volume, and is almost three times lighter in weight. ANTISEPTICITY The additive used in the production of polystyrene concrete does not allow insects and rodents to enter the walls, and prevents the formation of mold and mildew, which have negative impact to your health. VAPTOR PERMEABILITY Walls made of polystyrene concrete “breathe” similarly to walls made of wood, and there is no danger for them from condensation and waterlogging. This ensures a comfortable environment in houses made of polystyrene concrete. PLASTICITY Plasticity is the only material from cellular concrete that allows the production of window and door lintels; its flexural strength is 50-60% of the compressive strength, for concrete this parameter is 9-11%. CRACK RESISTANCE Polystyrene concrete, due to its elasticity, is incredibly resistant to cracks. And this guarantees a long period of preservation of the interior decoration and durability of the entire house. TECHNOLOGY High speed of construction of wall structures due to the lightness and convenient geometry of the blocks. Easy to saw and groove, the ability to give building material any geometric shape. ENVIRONMENTAL International building code(IRC) classifies polystyrene as one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly insulation materials. Thus, polystyrene concrete has a lot of undeniable advantages over materials such as expanded clay concrete, autoclaved and non-autoclaved aerated concrete, foam concrete, wood concrete, etc. The disadvantages of polystyrene concrete appear only when wrong choice its brand and violation of masonry technology and preparation for interior decoration. We can say with absolute certainty that there is not a single significant advantage for materials such as aerated concrete and foam concrete over polystyrene concrete. At the same time, polystyrene concrete significantly surpasses them in key characteristics.

The debate about what is better to use as a sealant for threaded connections (windings) - flax or fum tape - has not subsided for years. 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, what can we say about non-professionals? But even mere mortals sometimes need to connect something together. And it’s hermetically sealed. Let’s try to break down the recommendations “on the shelves”. About the properties of fum tape and its winding technology. And today our review is dedicated to flax, or tow, for plumbing work.

Contents of the article:

Plumbing 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 purchasing, you need to pay attention to quality. Good flax is sold in a braid or loose coil, has no lumps, and is clean (light in appearance).

Versatility. Suitable for any type of connection. Of course, with proper winding.

The ability to increase volume during swelling. That is, if immediately after the connection there is a small leak, it very soon “closes” itself. Flax fibers get wet and, swelling, cover small leaks.

Mechanical resistance. The only material that allows you to more accurately orient plumbing fixtures. You can, if necessary, make a half-turn back without losing the tightness.

But there are also disadvantages:

It is mandatory to use accompanying materials with it (lithol, grease, fum-let, sealing 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 air enters the water supply or heating systems during repairs or preventive inspections, which must be carried out annually. The accompanying material is designed to prevent rotting.

Requires special thread preparation. Many manufacturers of fittings make their threads already prepared for winding with flax. The threads have notches. If they are not there, then they need to be applied to plumbers (with a file, pliers, or less often with a hacksaw). They are needed so that the flax, during the joining process, does not slip along the turns of the thread and does not come together in a bundle.

Requires caution in brass and bronze connections. A layer that is too thick can break the thread and cracks will appear.

Plumbing linen is the only material that is very demanding in terms of compliance with winding rules. In addition to the already mentioned preparation of the thread, you need to prepare the flax itself: soak it with the accompanying material to prevent rotting. Then wind, observing the direction of the thread turns, that is, against the winding. Bring the ends of the fibers outside the thread area, pull them and, holding them with your finger, screw the connection onto the threads and tighten.

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 glue the parts of the connection to each other in such a way that the process of separation can be quite difficult, sometimes simply impossible. The same problems arise when separating steel elements, when incorrectly wound flax (or without accompanying material) as a result of rotting allows rust to occur in the threaded connection.

Which is better: linen or fum tape?

When it comes to sealing threaded connections, the first thought that comes to mind is plumbing. When installing water supply for cold water from steel pipes Neither flax nor fum tape have obvious advantages. The main thing is to wind the seal correctly. But when this water supply is installed from or, fum tape is preferable. Its advantage in this case is explained by speed. Non-metallic water pipes are installed faster than steel ones. And reducing the installation speed just because of winding (and winding flax is more difficult and takes longer) is not effective. In addition, the threads of the fittings are smooth and neat, and in such conditions fum tape is more effective. But it should be remembered that when connecting fittings with a diameter greater than 20 mm, fum tape is inferior in sealing quality. In such connections sanitary linen turns out to be more effective.

Installation of water supply for hot water and heating dictates its requirements. Including in terms of winding. In addition to the presence of water in the pipes, you need to consider that it is hot. That is, the winding must not only be sealed, but also resist the effects of temperature. Fum tape has not proven itself in this regard. in the best possible way. At the moment of connection, the fum tape splits into fibers and they clog the voids of the connection, blocking 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 supply system, these fibers are compressed. Often this is enough to cause a leak. Linen is temperature resistant.

If we take into account the other properties of these materials, 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 installation speed.

There are also cases when the most effective is a combination of flax and fum tape. The turns of the fum tape are laid with flax fibers. Or vice versa, one or two turns of fum tape are wound over the flax winding. This decision is not often made by plumbers, due to the peculiarities of the installation or operation conditions of the pipeline.

And lastly, 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, the linen may not be able to hold on during the joining process, slip, or get bunched up. Of course, in this case there can be no question of any sealing. The threads should have serrations that will catch the flax fibers. This will allow the winding to stay in place and provide a seal. These notches are made with a needle file, a file, and, if possible, with a hacksaw. In extreme cases, you can use pliers to strongly squeeze the thread in a circle; the ribbed jaws will leave nicks on the thread turns. Manufacturers of fittings often produce threads already prepared for plumbing linen.

Then a strand of fibers is separated from the flax braid. It is important to choose a strand of suitable thickness so that the winding is neither thin nor too thick. There should be no lumps in the strand: if there are any, they need to be removed. Some plumbers twist a strand of flax fibers before winding, some braid thin braids, and some wind the strand as is, loose. It doesn't matter what suits you. This does not affect the final result.

Then there are two options for subsequent actions. You can apply the accompanying material to the thread, wind dry flax fibers and then apply another layer of material. Or you can rewind flax strands already soaked in 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 flax turns in the direction of the thread. The end of the strand is clamped with a finger outside the thread, the first turn is made as a “lock”. That is, it is applied with a cross to clamp the end. Then the strand is wound as tightly as possible, turn to turn, without gaps. After winding is completed, the end of the strand is glued to the accompanying material closer to the edge of the thread.

Everyday life quite often forces a person to carry out minor repairs, during which rewinding is required. This could be a radiator, as well as plumbing fixtures. Every home handyman must learn to use tow correctly, as it will be useful to him sooner or later. can be made of metal, plastic, metal-plastic or nylon; each type of material has adapters for connecting other pipes. Such connections will be discussed below.

For reference

Quite often, home craftsmen have to decide how to wind flax onto the tap thread. If you want to hermetically connect the elements of the water supply and pipes, then perform work called packing. If it is necessary to pack two pipes at right angles using a coupling, it is best to cut threads at their ends. The coupling will have internal threads and external threads. Twisting them will not be enough for correct connection The thread must be sealed.

Description of flax tow

Before wrapping flax on threads, you should become more familiar with the flax fiber material used to seal threads. The product is natural, it is made from the primary processing of fine, uniform and long-fiber flax. The area of use of flax tow is very wide. Depending on the manufacturing technology, the material can be tape, plumbing, jute or construction. In the latter case, we are talking about insulation, which can ensure reliable tightness of almost any connections. For its production, fully combed fibers are used, which are supplied in bales. This material is used for construction work for sealing seams, insulating the log house and laying wooden elements. It is natural, it is especially appreciated among those who build wooden houses. If construction tow is supplied in rolls, then it is called tape. This material is also used for caulking seams in log houses and laying crowns. The advantage of using flax is its cost. The material is much cheaper compared to any other. It is consumed economically; the fibers, although thin, have high strength. If you wind them correctly, they can be used for any type of work where any connections are used. These can be ceramic and cast iron pipes.

Additional benefits

Before you wrap flax on threads, you should know that it swells as it absorbs moisture. This allows you to increase the tightness, because the leakage has no paths. Mechanical stability the material is quite high, it is this characteristic that allows you to adjust plumbing fixtures, while the hermetic properties are not lost, the connections can be unscrewed a full turn or half a turn.

Disadvantages of using flax

If you are thinking about how to wind flax on a thread, you should first become familiar with all the disadvantages of this material. The base material is organic, so it can rot when exposed to air and moisture. They can get inside when preventive examinations. For this purpose, tow is accompanied by additional material that can prevent rotting processes. This can be oil paint, sealing paste, lithol or solid oil.

In some cases, it is necessary to prepare the threads before winding, and if the material is laid in too thick a layer, this can cause damage to the connections, which is especially true for brass and bronze. If you are faced with the question of how to wind flax on a thread, you must remember that the seal being described requires the master to know the rules for winding. Related materials in combination with flax can significantly complicate disassembly, this applies to silicone or oil paint. Sometimes such additions make the installation process impossible. Flax is not suitable for use where temperatures can reach 90 °C. In such places, the material is welded and loses its sealing qualities. If you work with steel, you should definitely follow the winding technology. Otherwise, the threads may be subject to corrosion.

Winding flax onto a new thread

Before winding flax onto the thread, if it is new, you should prepare the turns. Many manufacturers today produce fittings that are already threaded, but the latter have notches that are intended for winding flax. The fact is that on a smooth thread the material can slip, it bunches up into a bunch, which leads to a failure of the seal. In order for the fibers to be able to hook, the turns must have serrations. If necessary, you can apply them with a file, a hacksaw or a file. Some craftsmen use a plumber's wrench or pliers: grasp the threads, and then apply notches with light pressure.

The main thing in this work is to achieve roughness on the turns. Before winding flax onto the thread, it is necessary to separate one strand from the whole braid. It is important to capture enough fibers so that the winding is not very thin, but it should not be thick either. Experts advise using a linen thickness that corresponds to two or one match. If there are lumps in the strands, they need to be removed, as well as small villi.

Work methodology

You can apply tow using your own technology; some experts twist it into a rope, some braid it into a loose braid, while others lay it in the form of a loose thread. The order in which additional material is applied may also vary. In some cases, you can lubricate the thread by wrapping it with fibers, and then apply another layer. Sometimes the fibers are pre-impregnated and then prepared. Both options are considered correct. If you are thinking about how to wind flax on a thread - clockwise or counterclockwise - then you can listen to the recommendations of experts, some of them wind the strands along the thread, others do the opposite. In this case, the end of the strand should be clamped with a finger outside the turns, the first turn should form a cross, this will allow the material to be fixed. There should be no gaps; you need to lay one turn to another. If you are making a connection, then excess material will be squeezed out of the fitting, this is true if you are working with iron pipe and a steel coupling. Brass connections, which is important for those that are manufactured according to modern technologies, burst under strong pressure.

Around the wound flax it is necessary to apply plumbing paste or any other sealing material, the movements must be rotational. The work should be as neat as possible. The second end should be glued closer to the edge of the thread, and before tightening, you need to check whether the pipe hole is filled with sealing material. Now you know, you can see photos of these works in the article. However, you will not be able to understand from them that it is necessary to tighten the elements with moderate force. If the nut goes easily, then little flax was put in. The winding will be correct if the material does not come out and the surfaces around the joint remain clean. For gas connections, it is not recommended to use organic tow, this is due to the fact that under the influence of gas it and the silicone, which is used additionally, are destroyed. Here it is most appropriate to use fum tape.

Winding flax on ecoplastic products

If you are thinking about how to wind flax onto a thread, then you can use the technology that is used in the case of working on ecoplastic products. This material, like brass, can burst. The main thing is not to overdo it. Before starting work, both fittings should be connected and the number of revolutions counted. The flax is wound evenly, its surface is coated additional material, only then can the fittings be connected. If you counted 5 turns idle, then after winding the tape it is best to make about 4.5 turns, without needing to reach the end. In this case, it is more advisable to use packaging paste instead of sealant.

Conclusion

Quite often, home craftsmen wonder how to wind flax onto a pipe thread. In this case, you should dismantle the connection and inspect the thread. You need to go through the coils with the tip of a knife or an awl; this method will allow you to get rid of accumulated debris. Wire brush Before winding the tape, you need to clean the turns until you see a shine.

The question of how to wind flax on a thread arises for many people, and they also often have to face the task of choosing between fum tape and flax. Each option is preferable for different situations. However, in some cases they can be interchangeable.

Advantages

Plumbing flax is a standard sealant for threaded connections; it can also be found under the name tow. It has many advantages, among which the following are worth noting:

Resistance to mechanical stress. This material is the best option for sealing sanitary fittings. When using it, it becomes possible to adjust while maintaining tightness.
As flax gets wet, it increases in volume. That is, you don’t have to worry if a small leak occurs after completing the connection, since it will be repaired on its own. The material begins to swell when exposed to moisture and thus stops the leak.
Versatility. The correct winding allows it to be used for various types of connections.
Low cost. Compared to other seals, this option is significantly cheaper. The main thing is to choose a high-quality winding; it should be light, in the form of a coil or braid, and there should be no lumps or inclusions.

Peculiarities

Despite the existing advantages, there are some issues that complicate the application:

Care must be taken when working with bronze and brass as the threads may be damaged when winding a thick layer.
The thread must be carefully prepared before use. Today, there are fittings on the market with threads designed for linen winding. They can be identified by special notches. If you don't have them, you can use pliers or a file. The notches prevent the flax from bunching and slipping.
Before winding flax onto the thread, it must be treated with suitable compounds - this can be oil-based paint, silicone, sealant or grease. Since this winding is organic material, it is susceptible to the development of putrefactive processes when in contact with water and air. The latter annually ends up in heating and water supply systems during maintenance or repairs. Special compositions prevent the destruction of the material.

Video on the topic

Processing agents

Some special compounds may complicate the dismantling of connections, the need for which arises when a leak occurs, when connecting new elements, or when replacing certain parts. Paint and silicone contribute to the gluing of elements and, as a result, difficulty in separation, in some cases it becomes impossible. In the absence of accompanying means or improper winding, similar problems appear on steel parts caused by the occurrence of corrosion damage at the connection.

Linen tow should be wound only in accordance with established rules. First, it is processed suitable means, the thread for it is also prepared. The winding direction should follow the thread turns. Then the remaining part is taken out beyond its limits and stretched, at this time the connection is screwed on and tightened. How much flax should I wrap on the thread? This can be determined by the tightness of the fitting being screwed onto it.

Which is better: linen or fum tape?

The materials used to organize hot water supply are subject to special requirements. They also apply to the means used for winding. Due to the high temperature of the liquid in the pipes, the winding must have high tightness and resistance to temperature effects. Linen meets similar requirements, while fum tape is not the most the best material. When connected, it is divided into many fibers, sealing the voids and preventing water leakage. High temperatures, which are characteristic of a water supply system with hot water And heating system, lead to compression of the fibers. This increases the risk of leakage.

As for other characteristics, it should be noted that flax tow is cheaper than fum tape, even if the material is used for processing. If in small jobs the difference is not so noticeable, but with active use you can get significant savings. But at the same time, the tape speeds up the work. Thus, it is impossible to say for sure which is better: flax or fum tape, since each material is suitable for different tasks.

Combination of two materials

In some cases, a combination of flax and fum tape is used to obtain a better connection. There are two options: flax is covered with several turns of tape, or both materials are wound in turn. Despite its effectiveness, this method has not become widespread due to the peculiarities of winding conditions.

Preparatory work

Before winding the flax onto the thread, the connection is prepared. This is necessary to prevent the material from knocking or sliding off a flat surface. If the flax does not stay in place, the degree of sealing will be extremely low. To fix the fibers, special notches are applied to the turns. They can be cut using a hacksaw, a file or a needle file.

How to rewind the thread correctly?

If such tools are not available, you can use pliers and, grasping the thread as tightly as possible, squeeze it - you should get small notches in a circle of turns. Also, as mentioned earlier, you can purchase fittings that are specially made for plumbing tow.

How to wind flax on a thread: instructions

The fibers are separated in small strands. It is worth noting the need to carefully select the thickness of the strands, since the winding should have an average thickness. If lumps or foreign elements are found, they must be removed. Plumbers use various options, for example, winding with a loose strand or braided. This is necessary to simplify the work, while the quality of the connection remains unchanged.

Next, sanitary flax, pre-treated with a special compound, is wound onto the thread. You can also first apply the composition to the surface, then wind the material, and distribute an additional layer on top. The effectiveness of both options is at the same level.

Regardless of the method used, the tow is wound in accordance with the direction of the thread. The first turn should act as a lock: to do this, it is applied in a cross, at which time one side of the strand should be clamped with your hand. The thread seal with flax should be as tight as possible, and there should be no gaps between the turns. The strand is then brought to the edge of the thread and glued using a suitable material.

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Hello dear homemade people.

Until now, the best winding for thread is linen. First, I will justify this statement, and then we will analyze the execution process piece by piece.

The first alternative to flax is fum tape. There are at least three reasons why it should be abandoned.

1. It is unknown who made it, despite what is indicated on the label, which means there are no guarantees of quality.

2. It takes a long time to wind it.

3. When tightening the thread, especially when installing valves, it is impossible to correct its position, that is, you can only tighten it forward. If you push it back a little, the connection on the gun will leak.

The second alternative is a Tangit unilock pipe with a lock. I won’t argue about the lock - it’s dead, but as for the key: consider that they screwed it up and threw the key away, so you can’t find it.

You can't unscrew it, you can only cut it.

Linen is a completely different matter. Here are four reasons why it's worth using:

1. One hundred percent guarantee against leakage.

2. Speed and accuracy of execution.

How to wind tow (linen) on a threaded connection (video)

The ability to adjust any connection back and forth, without the risk of leakage.

4. Easy disassembly, regardless of service life.

Now how all this is done.

Everyone knows that flax is not wound dry. Previously, it was impregnated with paint, but now, thanks to technological progress, silicone has appeared.

If the connection with paint looked very untidy, and it had to be disassembled with blowtorch, then with silicone it’s a completely different matter.

The main thing is to use solid silicones. These include: KimTek 101E, Olimp, Macroflex, since they, in addition to cushioning, also have adhesive properties. With other brands, the connection turns out to be too flexible, although it still does not leak.

So, we take a part with a thread, a flax braid, a syringe with silicone, and separate a small part from the braid for winding.

How much to pinch off from a braid? Each case is different. First you need to try wrapping the folder in a case. Sometimes it wraps very easily, sometimes it wraps tightly (just like in life), and depending on this, the amount of winding is chosen.

But in general, after the first time it will become clear. If it squeezes out too much, then take less.

First, we apply silicone to the thread, then, leaving a small tail, and pressing it with your thumb to the part, in the direction of the thread, we tightly wind the flax, trying to cover the entire surface with it, that is, so that it does not go in a strand.

If during the winding process you realize that there is already too much flax, simply tear off the rest. We also run the remaining tail in the direction of the thread.

After that, with your finger, we smooth the entire winding so that the hairs do not stick out on the sides, and most importantly, do not block the passage hole.

Now we wrap it, making sure that part of the winding is squeezed out. It can be easily removed with a rag, and the harder you press the rag against the part, the more accurate the connection will be.

This is how flax winding is done.

I wish you success in your work.

Section Construction >>>Subsection Heating>>>

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Everyday affairs"Our hands are not for boredom

How to wind flax on a thread

In order to achieve strength and tightness of the connection, builders and plumbers use flax or special flax tow, which is wound onto the threads of the butt elements.

To truly achieve the results you want, 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.

How to properly wind flax on a thread.

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, before this ends chemical reaction there are 8-10 minutes. 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 working with metal pipes, sometimes they just singe the end of the bunch. Doing this at home is not recommended.

How to wind flax on a thread? Plumbing flax (tow)

Plumbing threaded connections - do it right

Whatever plumbing work were not carried out, no matter what piping systems are used, threaded connections cannot be avoided. Naturally, the joint seal must be of high quality, otherwise problems will inevitably arise. In this article we will look at the best way to seal a joint, how to do it and some other points. If you think that this operation is simple and does not deserve attention, take your time, spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself.

What to seal with

There are many sealants available for sealing threaded connections. Ribbon “fum”, linen, “tangit” - sometimes your eyes run wide from the choice. Recently, a new product has appeared - an anaerobic sealant for threaded joints (please do not confuse it with flax paste), which greatly simplifies the procedure.

Anaerobic sealant has a couple of significant disadvantages: 1. The parts being connected must be dry and clean - this can be a serious problem when repairing and replacing parts in working system. 2. It takes time for the sealant to harden, albeit insignificantly, but this slows down the entire installation process. In addition, there is reason to believe that the connected parts cannot be disturbed in any way during subsequent repairs. In general, this solution is suitable for a beginner, for minor repairs. This material is not entirely suitable for a professional.

It should be noted: a good plumber will make a connection with any of the above sealants and there will be no leakage. We will focus on time-tested material that is used by the vast majority of specialists: sanitary flax and paste for it.

In general, flax can be used without investment paste, but it generally increases the reliability of the joint and simplifies the operation. Flax fibers tend to rot over time or dry out on hot water pipes - paste prevents these problems. An important property of the paste is its ability to hold pressure in loose threads.

How to rewind

Let me make a reservation right away: maybe someone performs this operation differently. But I can say with confidence: the connection is sealed and reliable.

Take a small bunch of flax, approximately as in the photo below, this is for winding a half-inch pipe (“1/2”). In general, the ability to take exactly as much flax as is needed for a particular connection comes with experience. One thing I can say for sure: it is better to overdo it than to take less than necessary.

The flax is wound onto the thread from the edge to the base, in the direction of the thread. If you look at the end, it turns out clockwise. It’s not important to get into every hole and go strictly in a spiral. The direction of winding, tension and that the threads are covered with an even layer of flax over the entire surface are important. You can even lay the winding in several layers if the bundle is initially taken too thin.

How hard to tighten

It is impossible to give any numbers here, because tightening is done by hand. On the one hand, the stronger the better, but you should remember the fragility of the parts being connected. Modern plumbing components are rather weak compared to Soviet ones.

how to wind flax on a thread video

Often, when tightly tightened, a part with internal thread bursts. Even if everything worked out well and the parts are intact, strong stress can manifest itself later in the form of a crack on the tee and a leak.

After twisting, the paste that has come out is removed with your finger. The result is a neat connection, without flax fibers sticking out in all directions. That's all science!

In conclusion, I would like to say: you should not be careless about the described operation. From experience I can say that eight out of ten connections of careless “specialists” begin to leak after a short time.

Tow for pipes is one of the most popular sealants on Russian market. Linen winding has been popular for many decades due to its low price, availability and relatively good sealing of joints under special conditions. Winding flax onto threads is relevant for temporary threaded connections and those located in the public domain, i.e. are always in sight, leaks are easy to detect and fix immediately. Flax compounds work up to a maximum temperature of 120-140 °C, but sometimes this figure is reduced to 70 °C. It all depends on the quality of the material and additional means sealing - plumbing paste.

Let's talk about the technology and rules of flax winding. How to properly wrap tow on a thread so that the sealing is sufficient for the entire shelf life of the joint? What are the tricks and professional secrets for high-quality thread sealing?

This question is asked not only by the owner of an apartment where a faucet has suddenly leaked or the faucet needs to be replaced, but also by a plumber who has recently started his career.

Linen is indeed not the simplest and comfortable material. Linen does not look aesthetically pleasing, it fluffs up and tears easily, and flax fibers constantly cling to threads or clothing. Almost weightless, they scatter around the room and, having finished the work, the plumber has to spend time finding and collecting all the threads.

In various videos from the series on how to wind tow on a thread, there are categorical tips on preparing the thread. They touch the notches. The notches prevent flax from slipping during winding, twisting and further use. However, not in all cases.

Firstly, notches are completely unnecessary when the diameter of the pipe is larger than the thread. The protruding part of the pipe will hold back the tow.

Secondly, it makes no sense to make notches if the master is a master at handling tow and has extensive practical experience.

Thirdly, the manufacturer makes the notches on special threads in advance. If you want, this is a kind of hint to the master.

How to wind flax and how much to measure? Also a controversial and frequently asked question. And here, too, there is no universal answer. Some people advise unwinding a strand equal to the thickness of two matches. Others call the figure 5 mm. In fact, only practice will show what length and width of the strand is suitable for a thread of a particular diameter. Before you finally wind the tow on the thread, practice.

Plumbing flax (tow). How to wind flax on a thread?

Unwind several different strands, try them on and find the best option.

There are several ways. Here's the fastest one:
1. Hold the tail of the thread at the end of the thread
2. Fasten crosswise
3. Move to the beginning of the thread and lay a strand in each turn
4. Then we return to the end of the thread, making another layer
5. Fasten the tail of the thread at the beginning of the thread
6. Apply plumbing paste

For those who know well how to wind tow, the number of layers is determined by eye. In most cases, 2-3 layers are enough. The main thing is that the thread is not visible under the linen, so that it completely covers the entire surface.

Before applying the paste, check the winding density. To do this, they try to scroll the flax. It should fit snugly against the thread and not move.

Twist the connection by hand with great force and tighten it with a wrench.

In theory - nothing complicated. In practice, it is unlikely that you will be able to make a high-quality connection the first time. We advise you to make several trial options. This way you will understand how to properly wind flax on the thread, and whether it is worth using this sealant at all.

What instead of flax?

Plumbing linen, in addition to being inconvenient to apply, has a number of disadvantages:
Short shelf life of the compound - 3-5 years
Instability to aggressive environments
Work with pressure up to 6-8 atmospheres
Risk of corrosion on threads

An alternative to tow is polymer threads and anaerobic gels. Anaerobic sealants are intended for sealing threaded and flanged metal connections, and threads (winding) are also allowed to be used on plastic.

If you compare the price of flax and paste with an easy-to-use and effective modern sealant, the difference is almost unnoticeable. Just a few tens of rubles. And the connection quality, assembly speed and service life cannot even be compared.

Polymer plumbing thread and anaerobic sealants:
Approved to work in aggressive environments and systems drinking water
Withstand pressure of 40 atmospheres and above, as well as vibrations and changes
Protects threads from corrosion and leaks for 20 years
Does not require training and is accompanied detailed instructions
They do not dry out and retain their properties for several years after opening the package.
Forms a connection stronger than the pipes themselves

Don't know how to wind flax onto a thread? Choose sealants with which such problems will not arise.

Flax plus paste: thread sealing in plumbing and heating

Linen and paste are such an easy-to-use thing that even a beginner will not leak the first thread. So I used flax and paste when I sculpted my heating system for the first time, and not a single connection leaked. Why flax and pasta? Before that I used fulenta. And I must admit, it wasn’t always possible to get it right the first time without modifications.

What is plumbing paste

Paste is something like graphite lubricant. It’s a bit like automotive CV joint grease, but automotive grease is greasy and gets your hands very dirty.

How to properly wind flax on a thread

And the paste also gets dirty, of course, but can be washed off with soap without any problems. Linen + pasta sets are often sold in stores as a set in one package. Well, you can also buy them separately.

So let's get started. To begin with, I rolled out this flagellum from flax:

Then I coated the carving with a thin layer of paste. I smeared it directly with my finger (this is a combination coupling onto which control valves for connecting radiators were screwed):

After this, he began to wind a flax flagellum onto the thread, recessing it into the turns of the thread, trying to get the flax fibers smeared in the paste. When the second turn began, it was additionally coated with paste on top as it was wound.

In the end, this is what happened:

Only Unipak used the paste. There was another one in the store, I don’t remember what brand, half the price, but for some reason I didn’t dare buy it. The entire heating system took less than two small 65 gram tubes! And I didn’t save it, I spent as much as needed.

Each radiator has 3 1/2 inch threaded connections. There are 8 radiators in total, for a total of 24 connections.

2 plugs and 2 American plugs for a gas boiler with a 1 1/2 (one and a half) inch thread. Total 4 connections

Electric boiler: 2 adapters with threads 1 1/2 inches to 1 1/4 inches + two American ones to 1 1/4. Total 4 connections.

Two connections per dirt filter - 1 inch

Two connections for the circulation pump - 1 inch.

And a little detail - a pressure gauge, safety valve, expansion tank, what else is there. That seems to be all.

For small threads (1/2 inch) very little paste is used, literally a few drops. The main expense was for boilers, filters, pumps, where there are threads of an inch or more.

The summary is this: working with flax and pasta is easy and convenient.

And the fact that your hands get dirty, and if you grab the white polypropylene pipe, then the pipe is nonsense. Hands are washed with soap, the pipe is simply wiped with a cloth.

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