Fibre washer rant
The Medway Handyman
Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap loads of
PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the best.
Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to refurb, not
one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with PTFE.
Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
--
Dave - The Grumpy Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
Usenet Nutter
<davi...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
>Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap loads of
>PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the best.
>
>Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to refurb, not
>one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with PTFE.
>
>Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
Last leak I had in my Alpha boiler was a failed fibre washer .I now
have a guy coming on Tuesday for another leak at the Filling Loop
connection .....will it be another washer failure ..time will tell.
Dave Osborne
> What is it with plumbers& fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap loads of
>
> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to refurb, not
> one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with PTFE.
>
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
>
>
Probably because the Readers' Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual
circa 1978 neglected to mention it...
Roger Mills
The Medway Handyman <davi...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap
> loads of PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the
> best.
> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to
> refurb, not one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with
> PTFE.
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
I've had quite a few that have gone soggy and/or crumbled over a period of
time - and then they leak!
--
Cheers,
Roger
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NT
> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
>
> > What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
> > Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap
> > loads of PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the
> > best.
> > Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to
> > refurb, not one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with
> > PTFE.
> > Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only £3 why don't people use them?
>
> I've had quite a few that have gone soggy and/or crumbled over a period of
> time - and then they leak!
One connector had failed due to the fibre washer. I made a few
attempts with a couple of new fibre washers, and got nowhere.
Substituted a rubber one and perfectly watertight first time.
NT
dg
I've often wondered what is the difference/correct usage of fibre,
rubber, nylon washers
dg
Unbeliever
> What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
Easy, they often find that they are more trouble than they're worth -
especially after the local "fixit and bodgeit" has been playing with
them!
> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap
> loads of PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the
> best.
No, they don't "hope for the best" - they actually know how to use the stuff
in a given situation!
> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to
> refurb, not one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with
> PTFE.
*THAT* would have been a sight for sore eyes I bet?
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
Really quite simple for those that know.
A Easier to carry a roll of PTFE tape than many different sizes and
types of washers and O rings.
B Very often that's the only stuff that will stop a leak on damaged
or deformed seatings & joints [1].
C A very often, that's the only thing that will work after the "fixit
and bodgeit" brigade has been there!
A question Dave, is there actually one job that you have attended where you
haven't bitched about something or someone on this group?
It would be interesting to here from someone who has gone to job that you
have done, seen then work and then tell the world what faults or omissions
that you have left there.
Ah well, I've dug you out of the bin as a result of reading a reply from yet
another of your informative posts, took a little time to respond to -and
then said sod-it, your still as egotistical and with nothing new to say and
dumped you back in the bin.
[1] Other than the old putty, Bosswhite and horsehair methods of old - or
even the bloody silicone mastic of today
Rod
> On 24 Jan, 21:20, NT<meow2...@care2.com> wrote:
>> On Jan 24, 8:44 pm, "Roger Mills"<watt.ty...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
>>> The Medway Handyman<davidl...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap
>>>> best.
>>>> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to
>>>> refurb, not one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with
>>>> PTFE.
>>>> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
>>
>>> I've had quite a few that have gone soggy and/or crumbled over a period of
>>> time - and then they leak!
>>
>> One connector had failed due to the fibre washer. I made a few
>> attempts with a couple of new fibre washers, and got nowhere.
>> Substituted a rubber one and perfectly watertight first time.
>>
>> NT
>
> I've often wondered what is the difference/correct usage of fibre,
> rubber, nylon washers
>
> dg
... and hemp. Lovely to just carry a small hank and be able to make
washers of any size required.
Remember - there is soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. And you need both
to keep you healthy. But only one makes a good washer. :-)
--
Rod
YAPH
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only £3 why don't people use them?
Because they're a PITA to find when you need them! :-/
--
John Stumbles -- http://yaph.co.uk
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Pop Psychologists are from Uranus
John Stumbles
> ... and hemp. Lovely to just carry a small hank and be able to make
> washers of any size required.
>
> Remember - there is soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. And you need both
> to keep you healthy. But only one makes a good washer. :-)
And only one makes a good spliff ;-)
--
John Stumbles
Procrastinate now!
The Medway Handyman
The whole point of fibre is that it swells when wet & seals the joint.
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
mike
blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only £3 why don't people use them?
Because they're £3 for 4 and you have to find somewhere to store the
other 96. ;-)
Roger Mills
>
> The whole point of fibre is that it swells when wet & seals the joint.
Until it crumbles - then it leaks!
John Rumm
got to b&q and they are �3 for 4 - problem solved! ;-)
--
Cheers,
John.
/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
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\=================================================================/
The Medway Handyman
> The Medway Handyman wrote:
>> What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
> Easy, they often find that they are more trouble than they're
> worth - especially after the local "fixit and bodgeit" has been
> playing with them!
Oh hello, its Tanner OP, Squared, Unbeliever - or whatever you call yourself
this week. 'Fuckwit' would seem to be appropriate.
>
>> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap
>> loads of PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the
>> best.
>
> No, they don't "hope for the best" - they actually know how to use
> the stuff in a given situation!
Hint. Tap connectors are supplied with fibre washers, not a roll of PTFE.
>> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to
>> refurb, not one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with
>> PTFE.
>
> *THAT* would have been a sight for sore eyes I bet?
>
>> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
>
> Really quite simple for those that know.
Which clearly doesn't include you.
> A Easier to carry a roll of PTFE tape than many different sizes
> and types of washers and O rings.
'Different sizes and types'? Fuckwit. There are 2 sizes & 1 type.
> B Very often that's the only stuff that will stop a leak on
> damaged or deformed seatings & joints [1].
Bollox it is. A fibre washer is the right way to do the job. Hint. Tap
connectors are supplied with fibre washers, not a roll of PTFE.
> C A very often, that's the only thing that will work after the
> "fixit and bodgeit" brigade has been there!
Fibre washers work. Hint. Tap connectors are supplied with fibre washers,
not a roll of PTFE.
> A question Dave, is there actually one job that you have attended
> where you haven't bitched about something or someone on this group?
Many. You are clearly too stupid to realise that I do 2 or 3 jobs a day, 6
days a week.
> It would be interesting to here from someone who has gone to job that
> you have done, seen then work and then tell the world what faults or
> omissions that you have left there.
Post that again when sober. I think you are saying "It would be interesting
to here [hear]from someone who has gone to [a] job that you have done, seen
then [the] work and then tell the world what faults or omissions that you
have left there".
> Ah well, I've dug you out of the bin as a result of reading a reply
> from yet another of your informative posts, took a little time to
> respond to -and then said sod-it, your still as egotistical and with
> nothing new to say and dumped you back in the bin.
Very good. Why don't you just FOAD and do us all a favour?
> [1] Other than the old putty, Bosswhite and horsehair methods of
> old - or even the bloody silicone mastic of today
Still stuck in that 1950's time warp I see.
Still the same old failure put out to grass.
Frank Erskine
<davi...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
>Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap loads of
>PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the best.
>
>Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to refurb, not
>one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with PTFE.
>
>Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
People nowadays either expect to buy a specific item (part number
whatever) for a particular job, or are happy to botch a job with
makeshift items such as PTFE tape, WD-40, car body filler (does
anybody actually use CBF for filling car bodies?) - there's very
little true utilisation of generic items (a.k.a. bodging!) (including
washers!).
ISTR that fibre washers were used for hot-water systems and rubber for
cold-water. This applied also to tap-washers. However, since synthetic
rubber came about, (conventional) tap washers are more usually
synthetic rubber, which is a bit more durable than fibre when in
regular operation.
--
Frank Erskine
dennis@home
"John Rumm" <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> wrote in message
news:i8adnbgAMpOYfcHW...@brightview.co.uk...
> mike wrote:
>> On Jan 24, 7:17 pm, "The Medway Handyman" <davidl...@no-spam-
>> blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
>>
>> Because they're �3 for 4 and you have to find somewhere to store the
>> other 96. ;-)
>
> got to b&q and they are �3 for 4 - problem solved! ;-)
I have lots of them in different sizes.
They were in a mixed kit of stuff from lidl.
I only bought the kit for the key fobs and picture hooks but I have used a
few fibre washers out of the kit.
Nightjar
> What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap loads of
> PTFE tape around the bottom of the connector & hope for the best.
>
> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to refurb, not
> one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with PTFE.
>
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only �3 why don't people use them?
The theory with fibre washers is that water leaks down the thread to
them, they get wet, swell and seal the connection. The theory with PTFE
tape is that water does not leak down the thread to begin with.
Colin Bignell
PeterC
My last shower hose had fibre washers - no use, as the fittings can't be
very tight, so rubber washers did the trick.
I've just used nylon washers between bib taps and upstands as that was a
hard join (damned things needed some packing as they were >100 deg. out)
for location and rigidity, with PTFE as the actual seal.
Nylon will creep under load (so my bodge above might have limited life on
the hot tap) so hard fibre washers could be better - and black would look
better than white nylon (the thin black fibre washer between shroud and
body is almost invisible against chromium).
I use both fibre washers and sealant; the sealant will protect the washer
to some extent.
--
Peter.
2x4 - thick plank; 4x4 - two of 'em.
PeterC
And lasts for decades in glands and is adjustable, unlike those damned
O-rings.
>
> Remember - there is soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. And you need both
> to keep you healthy. But only one makes a good washer. :-)
Don't use porridge!
Dave Osborne
> The theory with fibre washers is that water leaks down the thread to
> them, they get wet, swell and seal the connection. The theory with PTFE
> tape is that water does not leak down the thread to begin with.
>
> Colin Bignell
Er, I think you'll find that in a tap connector, the fibre washer stops
water leaking down the thread.
The water in the pipe is in touch with the washer, which swells and
stops water getting to the thread.
PTFE tape just seals the thread up, or doesn't as the case may be ;-)
Usenet Nutter
<Dave...@SPAMymail.com> wrote:
>Er, I think you'll find that in a tap connector, the fibre washer stops
>water leaking down the thread.
Or UP the thread :-)
John
"Usenet Nutter" <indivi...@takeoutmyteethgmail.com> wrote in message
news:7g1rl59214hpsfgov...@4ax.com...
I suspect that some people use PTFE tape on threads - when the thread is not
designed to do any sealing. In applications like tap connectors the washer
on the shoulder provides the seal - on a compression fitting - the olive
provides the seal. Clean faces and threads are a good starting point for
getting a seal - also well aligned pipes.
John Rumm
> "Usenet Nutter" <indivi...@takeoutmyteethgmail.com> wrote in message
> news:7g1rl59214hpsfgov...@4ax.com...
>> On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:24:54 +0000, Dave Osborne
>> <Dave...@SPAMymail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Er, I think you'll find that in a tap connector, the fibre washer stops
>>> water leaking down the thread.
>> Or UP the thread :-)
>
> I suspect that some people use PTFE tape on threads - when the thread is not
> designed to do any sealing. In applications like tap connectors the washer
Sometimes it is handy for lubrication if nothing else - can make
tightening easier and less squeaky.
> on the shoulder provides the seal - on a compression fitting - the olive
> provides the seal. Clean faces and threads are a good starting point for
> getting a seal - also well aligned pipes.
For the first time the other day, I encountered a metal to metal cone
fitting (radiator tap to tail) joint that would not stop leaking however
much it was tightened. The surfaces were new, and looked and felt fine,
but still no joy. In the end I had to resort to winding some PTFE round
the thread on the tail such that it flopped over the mating surface when
the joint was assembled.
Tim Watts
<see.my.s...@nowhere.null> wibbled:
> John wrote:
>> "Usenet Nutter" <indivi...@takeoutmyteethgmail.com> wrote in
>> message news:7g1rl59214hpsfgov...@4ax.com...
>>> On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:24:54 +0000, Dave Osborne
>>> <Dave...@SPAMymail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Er, I think you'll find that in a tap connector, the fibre washer
>>>> stops water leaking down the thread.
>>> Or UP the thread :-)
>>
>> I suspect that some people use PTFE tape on threads - when the thread
>> is not designed to do any sealing. In applications like tap connectors
>> the washer
>
> Sometimes it is handy for lubrication if nothing else - can make
> tightening easier and less squeaky.
I gave up on PTFE when I discovered Rocol... Marvellous stuff. But for
parallel threads, I've had less issues with fibre washers than some
damnable taper threads, especially when one of them is plastic.
--
Tim Watts
Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.
nimbu...@yahoo.co.uk
blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> What is it with plumbers & fibre washers in tap connectors?
>
> Its actually rare to find one. Usual practice seems to be to wrap loads of
>
> Helping my daughters bloke remove entire bathroom today prior to refurb, not
> one single tap connector had a washer, all bodged with PTFE.
>
> Bearing in mind a bag of 100 is only £3 why don't people use them?
>
> Dave - The Grumpy Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk
I suspect that it is because at least twice on my 8 or so times that
iI have changed these ( Including replacing a bath yesterday I have
forund the inside diameter of the fiber washer is smaller than the
thinned pipe which goes into the bottom of the tap.
being fiber there is no flex and so fitting is more akin with the
demolition man with his hammer and not the surgeon with his scalpel.
Common sense dictates that this is a disaster on fittings which are
akward to reach and tighten
The previous incumbant had used silicone to seal this
I am going to use Speedfit flexis which use rubber washers
Selco sell em 6 for a pound if you dont want 100
HTH Phil
Usenet Nutter
>For the first time the other day, I encountered a metal to metal cone
>fitting (radiator tap to tail) joint that would not stop leaking however
>much it was tightened. The surfaces were new, and looked and felt fine,
>but still no joy. In the end I had to resort to winding some PTFE round
>the thread on the tail such that it flopped over the mating surface when
>the joint was assembled.
>
For the "first time" ???
I take it you mean it was the first time you encountered a leaking one
and not the first time ever ?
You could have used LSX Sealant .
Nightjar
> On 25/01/2010 08:10, Nightjar <"cpb"@ insertmysurnamehere> wrote:
>
>> The theory with fibre washers is that water leaks down the thread to
>> them, they get wet, swell and seal the connection. The theory with PTFE
>> tape is that water does not leak down the thread to begin with.
>>
>> Colin Bignell
>
> Er, I think you'll find that in a tap connector, the fibre washer stops
> water leaking down the thread.
I was thinking of a wall mounted tap connector for an outside tap, as
those are what I usually see.
Colin Bignell
Usenet Nutter
<"insertmysurnamehere> wrote:
Which is a long way from the OP's daughters bathroom situation and as
I said before to somebody the fibre washer in a tap connector doesn't
stop water leaking "down" the thread .
ARWadsworth
"John Rumm" <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> wrote in message
�1.11 for 10 in Wickes. I woke up this morning to find my combi had lost
it's pressure. The return pipe had a split it's nylon washer.
I could not find my washers and called at Wickes for some new ones. I did
find my old washers when I put the new ones away. They were in the drawer I
searched this morning whilst looking for them!
Adam
John Rumm
The first time I had a rad joint like that which leaked - never had a
problem with them in the past - even when re-mating old connections.
> You could have used LSX Sealant .
Indeed, if there was any in my bag at the time, but alas there was not.