Thread Sealant: Tape or Paste

Depends what I’m doing.. steel or brass to aluminum paste steel to steel tape. Small brass use tape you don’t have to tighten as tight and can unscrew with out rounding hex.

 

I like paste better. Less chance of it getting ripped and sucking into the system.

 

I’ve used both. Both work for their intended purposes.

Sealant is easier to apply. Works well.

Tape also works well. Sometimes it’s a pain in the butt to get right. I’ve ripped a lot of failed attempts off a roll when it doesn’t go on the threads straight, flat, or it slipped and shrivelled up.

So far my go to is the hydraulic sealant for ease of use.

Sometimes for that difficult used thread or a lot of pressure (like hydraulics), the tape is my friend (for that one fitting).

Also tape can get the fitting snug and not leak when that fitting needs to be in a certain position. Can be a difference between a leak or a snapped fitting just by applying more or less tape for certain thickness.

 

Depends on application... But I usually fall back on tape. Ive had too many of the pastes fail and leak... Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. With tape I've never had an issue with a leak appearing at a later date once it is applied correctly with no leaks at initial assembly.

However there are the rare case when paste does seem to work better. Usually when the pieces are made of certain materials... Ex. Stainless steel fittings, plastic fittings, aluminum fittings, or if the product being moved through the pipe is particularly corrosive... Like acids or liquid fertilizer.

 

Well, when I think thread sealant, I think Locktite, and no toolbox should be without a tube. For fittings and such, I always used the white tape, if you can figure out which way to wind it around a bolt, that is.

 

My go to on anything with wheels that has a pipe thread joint is.

White permatex thread sealant with teflon.

Small bottle last just long enough and is almost gone when its dried out.

Gave up fumbling with tape years ago and leave it to the plumbers. I also heard from brake engineers its not good for brake valves.

 

You’re right . Now it is is specifically instructed on many air parts to use liquid thread sealant. I figured the liquid sealant has less chance of getting stuck in lines if it gets sucked in.

 

My preference is the pipe dope pastes

 

Hold the fitting in your right hand.
Start tape by your chest,
go down and clockwise away from you.
Do it the same every time, like 4 or 5 wraps.
This puts finish end pointing away from thread start direction when you thread it in.

Good point on the number of wraps can orient pointing fitting to your need.
I found "blue glue" in everything I ever took apart; but I guess that ain't good in brakes.
I don't use paste on anything; to me it's an obsolete technology.
Like cast iron sewer pipes, oakite, and poured lead. Then do same job in PVC pipe. See?
Faster, lighter, just as strong, and I think more sanitary. I don't even own any paste.
Paste also recommended in household gas fittings, like for stoves and water heaters.
Both of which I don't own, either. Stove, electric. Hot water, furnace coil.
It's raining and all the dogs are even asleep. You should be too, by now.