What is new in plumbing except flax. Linen plumbing shabby and combed. The method of winding flax on a thread
Everyday life quite often makes a person spend minor repairs, during which winding is required. It can be a radiator, as well as plumbing. Every House master he must learn to use the 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 on a tap thread. If you want to hermetically connect the elements of the water supply and pipes, then do the work called packing. If it is necessary to pack two pipes at a right angle using a coupling, it is best to cut a thread at their ends. The coupling will include internal thread and outer coils. Twisting them will not be enough; for a proper connection, the threads should be sealed.
Description of linen tow
Before flax is wound on a thread, you should become more familiar with what the flax fiber material is, which is used to seal the thread. The product is natural, it is made from the primary processing of fine, uniform and long-staple flax. The area of use of linen tow is very wide. Depending on the manufacturing technology, the material is tape, plumbing, jute or construction. In the latter case we are talking about insulation, which is able to provide reliable tightness of almost any connection. For its manufacture, fully combed fibers are used, which are supplied in bales. This material is used for construction works for sealing seams, warming 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 cabins and laying crowns. The advantage of using linen for its cost. The material is much cheaper compared to any other. It is consumed economically, the fibers, although thin, have high strength. If wound correctly, they can be used for any type of work where any connections are used. It can be ceramic and cast iron pipes.
Additional Benefits
Before winding flax around the thread, you should know that it swells, absorbing moisture. This allows you to increase the tightness, because the leak has no way. The mechanical stability of the material is quite high, it is this characteristic that allows fitting sanitary ware, while the hermetic properties are not lost, the connections can be unscrewed by a full turn or half a turn.
Disadvantages of using linen
If you are thinking about how to wind flax on a thread, you should first familiarize yourself with all the disadvantages of this material. The substance in the base is organic, so it can rot when exposed to air and moisture. They can get inside during preventive examinations. For this, tow is accompanied by additional material that can prevent decay processes. It could be Oil paint, sealing paste, lithol or grease.
In some cases, it is necessary to prepare the thread before winding, and if the material is laid too thick, this can cause damage to the joints, 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 described seal requires knowledge of winding rules from the master. Associated materials in combination with flax can make disassembly much more difficult, this applies to silicone or oil paint. Sometimes such additions make the installation process impossible. Flax is not suitable for use, where the temperature can reach 90 ° C. In such places, the material is welded and loses its sealing qualities. If you work with steel, then be sure to follow the winding technology. Otherwise, the thread may be corroded.
Winding flax on a new thread
Before winding flax on a thread, if it is new, then coils should be prepared. 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 off, it is bundled, which leads to a violation of the seal. In order for the fibers to be able to catch on, the turns must be notched. If necessary, you can apply them with a needle file, a hacksaw or a file. Some craftsmen use a plumbing key or pliers: the thread should be grasped, and then serifs should be applied with light pressure.
The main thing in this work is to achieve roughness on the turns. Before the flax is wound on the thread, it is necessary to separate one strand from the whole pigtail. It is important to capture so many fibers 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 strand, then they must be removed, as well as small villi.
Work methodology
You can apply tow using your own technology, some experts twist it into a bundle, someone braids it into a weak pigtail, while others lay it in the form of a loose thread. The order of applying additional material can also be different. 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 strands along the thread, others act on the contrary. 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 fix the material. Gaps should not be left, 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 an iron pipe and a steel sleeve. brass connections, which is relevant for those that are manufactured according to modern technologies, burst from strong pressure.
Around the wound linen, it is necessary to apply plumbing paste or any other sealing material, while the movements must be rotational. The work must be as accurate as possible. The second end should be glued closer to the edge of the thread, and before tightening, you need to check if the pipe hole has been filled with sealing material. Now you know, you can see the photos of these works in the article. However, from them you will not be able to understand that it is necessary to twist the elements with moderate effort. If the nut goes easily, then little flax was put. Winding will be correct if the material does not come out and the surfaces around the joint remain clean. It is not recommended to use organic tow for gas connections, this is due to the fact that under the influence of gas it and silicone, which is used additionally, are destroyed. The use of fum tape is most appropriate here.
Linen winding on ecoplastic products
If you are thinking about how to wind flax on thread by 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, count the number of revolutions. Linen is wound evenly, its surface is smeared additional material, only after you can connect the fittings. If you counted 5 turns in idle, then after winding the tape, it is best to make about 4.5 turns, while you do not need to reach the end. In this case, it is more expedient to use packaging paste instead of sealant.
Conclusion
Quite often, home craftsmen are wondering how to wind flax on a pipe thread. In this case, the connection should be dismantled by inspecting the thread. You need to walk along the turns with the tip of a knife or an awl, this method will allow you to get rid of accumulated debris. With a metal brush, before winding the tape, it is necessary to clean the coils until you see a shine.
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 - environmentally friendly herbal product, which does not require certification, so linen strand connections can be used to seal potable water pipelines. 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 experienced master 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 is selected empirically, which is also similar to the technology for using tow. Therefore, a beginner will have to spend a lot of time sealing with FUM tape. In addition, when assembling assemblies that require the 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 flax and fum tape is a modern sealing method - 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 a protective function to the fullest.
– 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, to assemble a knot on a plumbing thread is also several times faster than on flax, which is very important in conditions emergency and 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 average price 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 a 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 tapered threads - they slip 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.
In many cases, special flax fiber is used to seal threaded joints. Its other name is linen plumbing. This is a natural product, it is made from flax stem. Represents in finished commercial form homogeneous, thin, long parallelized fibers of combed flax. Such a fiber has the required length, sufficiently high mechanical strength (tensile, abrasion).
Flax fiber fits tightly into the threaded recesses. When screwing threaded elements of various connections of pipelines, fittings, sanitary flax is not destroyed. Possessing hygroscopicity, flax fibers swell when wetted. Thus, a reliable tight threaded connection is created. Flax sealant is widely used in Moscow and the Moscow region when performing plumbing work in the construction, repair and reconstruction of industrial and residential facilities.
Flax plumbing: features
Despite the appearance of synthetic sealants, the use of sanitary flax as a sealing material in many cases remains preferable. This natural sealant has a long history of use. For a long time of use, plumbing linen has proven its reliability. It is especially widely used in the installation of heat and water supply systems.
linen strand- hypoallergenic material resistant to putrefactive bacteria. Its durability is explained by the presence of silica, a natural anti-putrefactive substance. Unlike imported similar materials (bleached flax), chemical treatment is not used for domestic flax. It does not have foreign smells of antiseptics and fungicides. Safe and its contact with drinking water.
Flax fiber sealant has high technical specifications. It retains its ability to seal at high temperatures (up to 160°C). It is successfully used when connecting pipelines and fittings in industrial and municipal steam systems. It is preferred for use in heating systems, hot water supply.
The main characteristics of sanitary flax
High-quality fiber of sanitary flax should not have a putrefactive (rotten) smell. It should not contain wood residues in the fiber and weed impurities from the remains of cereals, grassy weeds. A strand of flax fibers should not be damp (no more than 16% moisture). The quality of sanitary flax must comply with the requirements of GOST 10330-76.
In the manufacture of torn sanitary flax, it is checked for compliance with the requirements of the standard. The verification is carried out by an instrumental method in the factory laboratories. Control parameters such as the presence of impurities, humidity, breaking load (strength), flexibility, color group.
Method of application, use of mastic
A strand of plumbing flax required by volume is wound strictly along the thread in the direction of screwing. At the same time, make sure that the layer is uniform and dense. A small amount of sealing composition (mastic) is applied over the wound strand of flax fiber, held for 1-2 minutes and the threaded connections are screwed. The operation of the assembled connection can be started immediately. The appearance of drops of water at first is allowed. The leak will soon disappear completely.
The mastic impregnates the flax strand and improves the corrosion resistance of the joint, therefore extending its service life. The use of mastic facilitates screwing and dismantling of threaded connections. It is completely environmentally safe in composition. It can be used for sealing pipelines with drinking water. Do not apply mastic in excessively large quantities. This will impair the hygroscopicity of the flax fibers and reduce their sealing properties.
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 training threads. 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 thread preparation, 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, incorrectly wound flax (or without accompanying material) as a result of decay, allows the occurrence of rust in the 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 pigtails, 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. Can be applied to thread related material, 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.
