pipe plugs and thread sealant

[Soundguy]

read the cans.. each has a different purpose.

the one for oil/gas, etc.. is:

Gasoila Chemicals - Soft-Set Thread Sealant with PTFE

of course plain old harvey's makes a paste for metal and plastic pipes that works fine too.

soundguy

 

[wushaw]

Soundguy, are you just using an adjustable wrench for plug removal? Reason I ask is I had to remove a very tight pipe plug on a spicer differential recently and I had to get a 1/2dr. 8pt socket and a 24" breaker bar since my 18" crecent wrench was just gonna round the flats off.
The 8pt socket had no troubles. I do understand once it's round it's alternate method time.

 

[kennyd]

Soundguy, are you just using an adjustable wrench for plug removal? Reason I ask is I had to remove a very tight pipe plug on a spicer differential recently and I had to get a 1/2dr. 8pt socket and a 24" breaker bar since my 18" crecent wrench was just gonna round the flats off.
The 8pt socket had no troubles. I do understand once it's round it's alternate method time.

I love 8pt. sockets! I even won a bet with I friend of mine once who is very mechanical-but he had never heard of them before!:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

Soundguy, are you just using an adjustable wrench for plug removal? Reason I ask is I had to remove a very tight pipe plug on a spicer differential recently and I had to get a 1/2dr. 8pt socket and a 24" breaker bar since my 18" crecent wrench was just gonna round the flats off.
The 8pt socket had no troubles. I do understand once it's round it's alternate method time.

adjustable wrenches are the LAST thing I use on a plug. I like a fixed wrench or socket if possible. heck.. I even have some custom made plug wrenches that are made of flat plate with a square notch.. think I only have them for like 1/2 and 3/4... should make one for 1/4 though.. these plugs were in so tight the head would have twisted off the soft cast iron plug before they came out. drilling them helped relieve some pressure.

soundguy

 

[pat32rf]

I have been known to use 1/4 and 1/2" brass NPT plugs as well as some plastic ones (in the right spot).
Right now I have a heat exchanger from an outdoor furnace on my bench. The house burnt and he gave me the heat exchanger-BUT the pipe dope they used seems to have solidified with the heat. Wasn't hot enough to damage the copper joints or melt the plastic pipe but I can't move the 3/4" FIPs with two 14" pipe wrenches...

 

[Eagleview]

You must be very carefull when using liquid pipe sealants on Die cast or plastic housings with tapered threads . The sealant will act as a lubricant and allow the plug or fitting to force it's way in and easily expand the female thread until the housing cracks . Use Teflon tape if not in contact with fuels on Die cast and plastic fittings .

 

[wushaw]

I love 8pt. sockets! I even won a bet with I friend of mine once who is very mechanical-but he had never heard of them before!:thumbsup:

I got on the Snap-On truck to get a couple and he hadn't ever heard of an 8pt socket either, I just ordered some from an on-line source.

 

[Cami]

@DanD78: If it doesn't need thread locker then it needs Anti-Seize!

I never heard of using dope AND tape until recently; I've used one or the other. This sort of thing is a pipefitter's problem, eh?

A funny thing is I've been doing some work in a new (to me) facility recently and noticed that all the lumbing for the compressed air and boilers in my area use both; other places I've worked it was one or the other.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I got a 4 piece set of 8pt Craftsman sockets years ago in 3/8" drive. I would have to go out and look at them but I think they fit 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 3/4" pipe plugs. I have only used them a hand full of times but they are sure handy.

Another trick I do is if I have a threaded plug that will be needed to taken in and out quite a bit is to weld a nut on the end. I like to drill out the threads of the nut to set down over the square head and use black pipe type plugs.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

I've done that as well.. have even went as far as using a square file to make a square profile to the nut to slip it down.

I miss the applications where there are actually hex headed plugs.. love them... good squares are ok, and I hate inverted hex.. and semi hate inverted square..

soundguy