In order to achieve the strength and tightness of the connection, builders and plumbers use in their work flax or special linen tow, which is wound on the thread of the butt elements. In order to achieve the truly desired results, it is important to know how to wind flax onto threads correctly.
It is necessary
- - tow (flax);
- - silicone;
- - plumbing wrench.
Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the connecting elements, having previously cleaned them from rust, if suddenly there is one. For this, you can use fine sandpaper. When removing rust, be careful not to damage the threads.
Step 2
Take a 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 tight, 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 joint during assembly, and this will almost certainly cause a new leak.
Step 3
Please note that pipelines with a die-cut thread usually have a fairly rough surface, but fittings with a smooth surface must be prepared. To do this, use a plumbing wrench or a triangular file to make small notches over the threads.
Step 4
Take a flax, and attach the end of the fiber to 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 linseed fiber to cover the entire thread, take another bunch.
Step 5
On top of the fiber that is wound on the thread, apply a thin layer of silicone or a special paste: this will achieve a tight connection.
Step 6
Twist the threads while the silicone has not yet cured. Remember, there are 8-10 minutes before the end of this chemical reaction. There is no point in fixing the small amount of tow that remains outside the connection - the sealant will hold flax well. However, plumbers working with metal pipes sometimes simply set the end of the bundle on fire. Doing this at home is not recommended.
