1. Appointment of tow and how it works.
2. Varieties of sealing materials.
3. Sealing technique pipe thread tow.
AT plumbing work ah tow is used to seal pipes and transitions connected by threads. It is made mainly from flax waste and is a coarse fiber. small sizes. If properly wound tow, 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 of the connection from leaks.
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 wrenches in the amount of two pieces;
- plumbing tow;
- FUM tapes.

The procedure for obtaining a high-quality tight threaded connection will be considered using the example of combining a union nut (American) with external thread 1 inch and 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.

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

When assembling any threaded connection, whether for gas, water supply or heating, one must not forget about the tightness of the entire system. An experienced plumber is armed with a whole arsenal of tools and tools, and beginners in this business need to carefully master the most basic techniques and approaches. One example basic knowledge the question is: how to wind the tow on the thread? Well, let's figure it out!

Preparatory stage

Before winding linen or tow on a thread, you need to prepare the connection surface and determine the required amount of tow. Screw the fitting onto the threads as is, without winding anything. This will help determine how much tow will need to be taken.

If the thread is smooth and even (in the case of factory cutting, most likely it will be), for better adhesion, it is recommended to apply notches on the turns. For this, a water wrench, trihedral naphthyl or ordinary pliers are suitable; all that needs to be done is to apply notches across the thread, while not being too zealous. This is done in order to prevent the tow from slipping along the threads.

Notches should not be too deep, you do not need to literally tear through the metal (watch the video). The reliability of the connection in the future will depend on how the tow is wound correctly. If you put too little and rarely - it will leak, while an excess amount can be much more dangerous - a too tightly wrapped area can burst when the temperature rises (as you know, metal expands when heated).

Let's start winding

A small amount of tow should be taken from the common bundle, while the fibers should be even, smooth, without knots and breaks.

Tow must be twisted into a rope of such thickness that it (thickness) is equal to the thread pitch, that is, it fills the cavity between the turns.

Winding is carried out from the inner edge of the thread;

there are several ways to wind the tow - for example, some advise to start winding with an indent and then overlap the fibers so that they hold better (see video).

But for beginners, it will be easier to wind directly from the edge.

So, having attached the end of the linen rope to the first turn, we wind in the direction opposite to the twisting - that is, clockwise, if the thread is right (in the vast majority of cases it is).

It is necessary to wind tightly, but not too plentifully - two layers will be more than enough. As soon as the tow is wound on the thread, without releasing your fingers, apply a paste for fixation. Silicone, paint or glue is often used for this, but personal experience we recommend paying attention to Unipak - this paste is more neutral with respect to metal and does not have taste and smell, which will help to avoid problems when installing water pipes.

Process video

Flax (tow), fum or plumbing thread?

Ordinary tow is an old, but proven tool in plumbing, in fact, this is the "old-fashioned way." The tow is suitable for both winding and other works. The modern industry offers alternatives such as fluoroplastic (fum) tape and ready-made ones.

While they may be more convenient to use for a number of reasons, linen has its advantages: it is more environmentally friendly than PTFE and significantly more affordable than specialty plumbing thread. It is quite possible that in the future we will have new solutions that will replace flax, but so far the knowledge of how to wind tow on a thread will never be redundant for an economic person.

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 wind the thread faucet. 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. AT this case it is recommended to perform thread sealing 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, you must choose only linen quality production. 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 check out the available this material its cons.

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 make 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 wrapping new thread flax, it is necessary to prepare the coils before this. Today, a number of manufacturers produce fittings with already cut finished threads and with 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.

Apply additional lubricant(paste) can also be different. 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. As for brass connections, it will refer to those that are made using modern technologies and under strong pressure they burst.

On the wrapped linen 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 special technology, which 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 on a threaded connection old pipe. In such situations the best way, it is to dismantle the connections and at the same time inspect the thread.

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

Combed flax has long enjoyed a well-deserved reputation as one of the best sealants in plumbing work. This type of compactor is the long fibers of the plant, obtained in the process of combing ragged flax stems. Depending on the length of the fibers and their purity, all the material used is divided into grades. Technical characteristics of sanitary flax depend on its grade and must comply with GOST 10330-76.

Probably everyone knows about how to use plumbing linen. This is a very simple material that does not require special training of the master. However, an incorrectly made connection will not be tight enough. Therefore, you need to know some tricks, how to wind sanitary flax to avoid leaks and not redo the work several times.

GOST 10330-76 regulates the process of production, processing, and sorting of flax used as a seal.

1. Depending on the quality, all flax is divided into numbers from 8 to 24. The higher its number, the lower the content of fires and weed impurities in its composition.
2. Putrefactive odor and foreign impurities in the mass of fibers are not allowed.
3. Permissible moisture content of the material - no more than 12%.
4. The temperature of use of sanitary flax is up to 120 degrees. In the case of using some special types of pastes - up to 140 degrees Celsius.

Linen fibers are formed into skeins of various weights and sizes.

Features of the use of flax

Threaded connections of pipelines and connected plumbing equipment are places with a potential risk of depressurization and subsequent leakage. Therefore, during installation, such areas are subjected to additional sealing using various materials such as fum tape, sealing threads, various sealing pastes and sealants. However, there is no material more reliable, moreover, time-tested and more than one generation of plumbers than plumbing linen, or the popular name - plumbing tow.

When using flax, you need to know the features of its use:

• tow is a very cheap sealant, much cheaper than any other sealing material. However, when buying it, pay attention to the quality. Good varietal flax is sold in the form of braids or coils, light in appearance, without foreign inclusions.
• linen swells when in contact with water. At the same time, its volume increases, blocking any leaks and leaks.
• due to high mechanical resistance, plumbing tow allows you to orient taps, couplings and other elements without loss of tightness. You can tighten the threaded connection until it stops, and then unscrew it half a turn or a turn along the thread without fear of weakening the contact point.
• sealing the connections of pressure water pipelines with this material makes it possible to firmly fix the connected elements due to the possibility of increased tightening forces.

Threaded connection with seal made of sanitary flax

However, when using sanitary flax, you should also know some precautions.

• When joining copper or brass parts, maximum care is required. Too thick winding can lead to cracking of the part and the appearance of a leak.
• It should be remembered that some materials for processing sanitary flax before use will make it difficult to dismantle the connections. The same problem can occur in the joints of steel parts, where improper work using tow leads to rust in the threaded connections.
• Tow - organic material subject to rotting with access to moisture and air. Therefore, when used as a sealing material, it requires impregnation by special means(solid oil, lithol, special pastes and sealants, as well as oil paint).

Water repellents for tow

Due to the resistance of the fibers, sanitary flax cannot be destroyed when twisting sanitary fittings. Thin, long linen fibers are collected in the depths of the threaded channels and, when the parts are connected, they completely fill all the gaps and the slightest leaks. During further operation, the closest to wet area fibers swell, thereby blocking the path for the movement of moisture to the outside. Connections sealed with sanitary flax are able to withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius.

The method of winding flax on a thread

Before starting work on winding sanitary flax on a threaded connection, it is necessary to carry out some preparatory work.

The threaded part is prepared for winding flax

Thread preparation

If you decide to seal the connected parts of your water supply in this way, you must first prepare the thread itself. The fact is that flax wound on a regular thread will bunch up with a screwed nut. In the threaded connection itself, it will practically not remain. The work will be done poorly, and such a connection is doomed to leak in the very near future. In order for the flax fibers to be fixed on the threads, it is necessary to make notches on them. Notches on threaded turns can be made with any available tool - a chisel, a sharp screwdriver, a file, or, if the place of work allows, even a hacksaw. The notches are made longitudinally, across the threads on the pipe. The main thing is that the notches have sharp, not smooth edges.

You should also be aware that the top of the thread on the pipe must be rounded. Inch threads pipe joints are cut in this way, with a 55-degree angle at the top. If this requirement is not met, then a 60-degree thread will break the winding. Manufacturers of spurs, fittings, taps and other elements carry out threads taking into account all these requirements, in addition, they apply the necessary notches at the production stage. Such products can be considered fully prepared for winding tow.

How to wind

First, we separate a small strand from the entire mass of tow. No need to choose a very thick beam, try to immediately take the optimal amount of material. The winding should not be very thin, such a connection will be loose. However, too thick a layer of flax will bunch up when tightening the nut, which will also lead to marriage.

If there are lumps or other impurities in the strand, they must be removed. Then you can either twist the strand or weave a pigtail out of it. You can completely fluff the bundle of material before winding. When winding flax on a thread, there are some tricks:

• If you twist or weave a pigtail, you can apply the selected sealant to it before use (special sealing paste, lithol, paint, etc.). Or use the tow as is, then the sealant is applied simply to the thread. In the process of work, you will choose the most suitable option for you. This will not affect the final result.
• It is necessary to wind sanitary flax in the direction opposite to the direction of the threads. For example, with a left thread, flax fibers are wound clockwise, and with a right thread, vice versa.
• You need to start work from the point where the thread exits. The strand is taken in right hand(the instruction is given for right-handed people) and applied to the pipe. With the thumb of the left hand, press the edge of the fibers to the place where the thread enters the pipe. Then, with the first turn of the tow, they try to wind the end of the strand to the pipe, making the so-called “lock”. Then, coil to coil, flax is wound on the threaded part. This should be done without gaps between the fibers, as tight as possible, moving towards the start of the thread. Closer to the edge of the pipe, the thickness of the wound tow must be reduced. So the nut will more easily go onto the threaded part.
• When the winding is completed, the excess tow is separated, its tip is glued with sealant, and then the winding is smoothed flush with the thread.

This is how the correct winding of flax should look like

The ideal option can be considered the case when the maximum force applied to the nut falls on the last 2-3 turns of the thread, and when fully tightened, part of the turns remains outside. If the nut is screwed on by hand, then the winding is made too thin. It is necessary either to add tow on top of it, or to do everything again.

When screwing on the nut, make sure that the tow does not stray to the edge. In some cases, it is better to redo the work.

After the installation work plumbing tow sticking out from under the nuts can be cut or smoothed at the junction. After completion of the installation work, the connections made of ferrous metals must be painted over to protect against corrosion.

Sanitary linen at correct use will be able to provide the most hermetic connection of any elements of water pipes for cold and hot water, regardless of their internal pressure and temperature. However, the work should be carried out carefully, and at the slightest suspicion of a marriage, it should be completely redone. This will give you confidence in the durability and reliability of the connections.

Video about packing a threaded connection using sanitary flax

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

To achieve truly desired results, it is important to know how to wind linen 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 there is such a thing. For this you can use sandpaper small granularity. When removing rust, be careful not to damage the thread.

Take the tow and separate a small strip of fibers from the main bundle, which you spread along the 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 junction 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 threaded threads, as a rule, have a fairly rough surface, but fittings with smooth surface need to prepare. To do this, use a plumbing wrench or a triangular needle file to apply small notches over the threads.

Take the linen, 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 flax fiber to cover the entire thread, take another bunch.

On top of the fiber that is wound on the thread, apply thin layer silicone or special paste: this will achieve a tight connection.

Twist the threads while the silicone has not yet cured. Remember, before the end of this chemical reaction have 8-10 minutes. There is no point in fixing that small amount of tow that remains outside the joint - the sealant will hold linen well. However, plumbers working with metal pipes, sometimes they just set fire to the end of the beam. Doing this at home is not recommended.