Flax sanitary impregnated. Traditional material in the new workshop - sanitary flax

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 rewind the threads of a water tap. 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. In this case, it is recommended to seal the thread for a competent and reliable connection.

Linen - pros and cons

Advantages of the material for plumbing work:

Affordable price compared to other sealing materials. But when purchasing, it is necessary to choose only high-quality linen. 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.
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.
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.
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:

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.
In some cases, before proceeding with winding, it is imperative that you first carve, prepare, clean and. Most manufacturers of pipes and fittings produce 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 proceeding with the winding of a new thread with flax, it is necessary to prepare the turns beforehand. 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.

Additional lubricant (paste) can also be applied in different ways. 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 linen wrapped 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 when 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 a special technology that 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

The tightness of threaded connections depends entirely on the packaging. And although only at first glance, winding flax on a thread is not difficult, as in any other business, it also has its own subtleties and secrets.

For example, it often happens that the tow is cut off by a thread or, on the contrary, climbs out. In this case, it is necessary to scratch the thread, making small notches on it.

So, how to properly wind the flax on the thread, the better to lubricate the tow in the process of sealing the thread and will be discussed below.

Today, there are two most popular materials for sealing threads, these are fum-tape and flax - also known as tow. Both the material for packing threaded connections have both their positive and negative sides.

The advantages of flax for winding threads are inexpensive cost, durability in use and some other advantages. For example, linen swells when it comes into contact with liquid, and it often happens that a small leak closes up the next day.

It is more convenient to work with tow and you can’t do without it when winding cast-iron threads and other threaded connections with large diameters.

To know how to properly wind flax on a thread, you need to remember the following:

The winding of flax on the thread is carried out clockwise or in other words along the thread, in the direction of its twisting.
After sealing the thread with tow, its surface is lubricated with a special paste to prevent decay during operation.
To prevent the linen from slipping off the thread during its winding, small notches are made on threads made of non-ferrous metals (bronze, brass, copper) using pliers or plumbing crabs. Black metal can not be scratched.

If you still don’t know how to lubricate tow for threads, then you should understand that both special purchased pastes, such as Unipak or plumbing sealants, and other lubricants, in particular, lithol and grease, are suitable for these purposes.

It is not very convenient to work with the latest lubricants for tow, since you can’t wash your hands from them later, and the effect on flax during its operation may not be as positive as when using special lubricants and sealants.

To properly pack the thread with flax, you need to take a small amount from the whole “braid”, and from the beginning of the thread, start laying flax in each turn clockwise. At the same time, it is important to monitor the uniformity of winding flax so that each thread contains approximately the same amount of it.

You should not wind flax tightly around the thread, because in this case it will be very difficult to twist it later, and the risk that the thread will burst increases significantly. This is especially true for non-ferrous metal threaded connections, which have very thin walls and low strength.

It is normally considered that after winding the tow on the thread, its upper edges are barely visible. In this case, the installation of a threaded connection with your own hands can be done quite easily and without excessive effort.

As a rule, it is not worth saving with the amount of tow by winding threads from ferrous metal - cast iron or steel. This is especially true for cast-iron threads, from which, after winding the tow, it simply peels off.

After the flax is wound on the thread, its surface is lubricated with a sealant, while the paste must be pressed into the tow, and that in turn into the thread. Only you need to do this again clockwise, or in the direction in which the flax is wound.

2015-02-18, 19:31

Hello dear DIYers.

Until now, linen has been the best winding for carving. First, I will substantiate this statement, and then we will analyze the execution process piece by piece.

The first alternative to linen is fum tape. There are at least three reasons why it should be abandoned.

1. It is not known who made it, despite what is indicated on the label, which means there are no quality guarantees.

2. It takes a long time to wind it.

3. When tightening the thread, especially when installing valves, it is impossible to correct its position, that is, you can only twist it forward. If you apply a little back, then the connection on the fumka will flow.

The second alternative is the Tangit unilok pipe with a lock. I won’t argue about the lock - it’s dead, but as for the key: consider that they twisted it, and threw the key away, and so you can’t find it.

You can't unscrew it, just cut it.

Linen is a completely different matter. Here are four reasons why you should use it:

1. One hundred percent guarantee against leakage.

2. Speed and accuracy of execution.

3. The ability to adjust any connection back and forth, without the risk of leakage.

4. Easy disassembly, no matter how old it is.

Now how is it done.

Everyone knows that flax is not wound dry. Previously, it was impregnated with paint, but now, thanks to technological progress, silicone has appeared.

If the connection with paint did not look very neat, and you had to disassemble it with a blowtorch, then with silicone it is a completely different matter.

The main thing is to use solid silicones. These include: KimTek 101E, Olimp, Macroflex, since, in addition to cushioning, they also have adhesive properties. With other brands, the connection turns out to be too mobile, although it still does not flow.

So, we take a threaded part, a flax pigtail, a syringe with silicone, and separate a small part from the pigtail for winding.

How much to pinch off a pigtail? Each case is different. First you need to try to wrap the folder in the mother. Sometimes it wraps very easily, sometimes it’s tight (everything is like in life), depending on this, the amount of winding is chosen.

And in general, after the first time it will become clear. If it squeezes out too much, then we take less.

First, we apply silicone to the thread, then, leaving a small tail, and pressing it with your thumb to the part, in the direction of the thread, we wind the flax with an interference fit, trying to cover the entire surface with it, that is, so that it does not go with a tourniquet.

If during the winding process you realize that there is already too much linen, just cut off the remnants. The remaining tail is also started in the direction of the thread.

After that, with a finger, we smooth the entire winding so that the hairs do not stick out on the sides, and most importantly, do not block the through hole.

Now we wrap, while it is imperative that part of the winding squeeze out. It is easily removed with a rag, and the more you press the rag against the part, the more accurate the connection will be.

There is nothing difficult in this, so let's try. We wind the linen on the thread evenly in the direction of the thread, but there is a small nuance, depending on the fitting on which you are winding, and on the one that you will wind.

If you are going to connect an iron pipe, and for example, a steel sleeve, then it is not scary if you wind more flax than necessary, since iron pipe and the steel sleeve are quite powerful fittings, and when you connect them, the extra flax will squeeze out, but if the fittings are weaker, for example, a brass corner, a brass sleeve, then with an excess amount of tow, it can, and even 100 percent, that it will burst, given that the quality of the manufacturer is now lousy.

The quality of brass fittings in the USSR and now differs significantly, not in favor of a modern manufacturer.

How to wind flax on ecoplastic sleeves

Also, do not overdo it when connecting ecoplastic couplings, the internal brass thread can also burst. Before winding flax on the thread, first simply screw these two fittings on top of each other, and count the number of turns for how much they are wound, for example 5. Wrap flax evenly over the entire thread, then I would advise using investment paste, not sealant, coat flax paste and connect the fittings together, in this example I recommend twisting the fittings 4 - 4.5 turns. Until the end, i.e. 5 revolutions do not need to be pulled.

There is now such a popular thing as a fum tape, so I would definitely not advise you to make any packing of fittings for it. About 6 years ago I tried to work with this tape a couple of times, and switched back to linen. See the video on winding flax below.

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 connection. 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 thread preparation. 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 much thick 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 preparation of the thread, 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, not properly wound flax (or without accompanying material), as a result of decay, allows rust to form 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. AT last resort 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. You can apply an accompanying material to the thread, 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.