How to apply plumber’s hemp and paste for sealing up pipe joints.
31 Comments
very interesting. Been dealing with a very slight, yet very stubborn weep. I was wondering why there's no taper on the threads here in Finland, and every joint is made up with hemp.
Is that REGULAR hemp, as in ANY hemp ROPE, or TWINE, which I can buy anywhere hemp rope or twine is sold? Or is it a type of hemp that's made specifically for plumbing thread sealer? My hardware stores and big-box stores do not sell any type of hemp or lamp wick that's specifically made for sealing NPT pipes — only the teflon tape and dope.
Make sure to start with the hemp, and from the end of the pipe. Make sure no hemp goes inside the pipe. Then, afterwards, apply the paste on top of the hemp.
As a cabinet maker I need to join some pipes from time to time usually when I make kitchens. I have been using Teflon tape for years, but this last time the pipe just wouldn't stop making drops and I made three reattempts. I'm going to try this way tomorrow. PS One of the reasons I use Teflon is the drop in pipe quality and that a colleague of mine cracked the pipe with using too much threads.
The paste is applied over the hemp usually. Its for anti rust or too much grip in case you'll have to unscrew in future. Hemp is wonderful. On water pipes gets swollen and seals the threads. Teflon is junk !
Thank you for the instruction. Had a problem with a fitting of a water pipe that wouldn't stop leaking. Couldn't get it fixed with the teflon tape. The hemp and paste, with your instruction, worked like a dream!
A plumber told me he knows if a DIY'er did a job like this because they used thread tape and not hemp and they have leaking joints. He explained that the water actually swells the hemp and seals the joint. Thread tape is used on the inside of a female nut connector as well as the hemp on the male threads.
Why not using Teflon tape? Is using an organic fibre such as mentioned in combination with a mineral sealer safe for consumption? Imagine all that stuff getting into your drinking water ?
sorry but you apply the hemp incorrectly. You mislead people as such with incomplete sealing that is bound to leak way sooner than it should. When you separated like that (1:24) you destroyed the parallel position of the fibers and messed it up. Fibers should be completely clean and neat, just as they are when you buy it. That way it will follow naturally the pipe threading and will not end up knoting in there and get pushed out as you tight up the joint. Also the hemp piece should be pulled out when turned on the threads so it will be tight and not rotate with the female threads. If its not messed up, its not easy to break when pulled, so you can apply some force on the pulling while threading it.
very good. im a master plumber in teas and just finish a big job in isreal. they do it almost the same but put the hemp on first and then tephlon tap after because some valves there cannot work if any pipe dope enters the valve
In France in most case (except for gaz and air) we use oakum and paste because it's 100% leak proof if it's well-made and you can turn your fitting a bit if you made a mistake it won't leak . All the plumbers I know use this method. Anyway everybody's free to work his own way some prefer Teflon, other prefer past and oakum, some like scelent… Peace 🙏 PS: you don't need to break the thread on galvanise steel pipe and black iron pipe. Only brass fitting need it.
One of my senior fitter tought me one hack, how to seal BSP threads used in water piping. Apply oil paint & wound cotton thread (which is used in grossary shops) in BSP threads to give strong & leakproof joint.
very interesting. Been dealing with a very slight, yet very stubborn weep. I was wondering why there's no taper on the threads here in Finland, and every joint is made up with hemp.
Some say to take the hacksaw and make little burrs on the thread for the hemp to grab onto.
Is that REGULAR hemp, as in ANY hemp ROPE, or TWINE, which I can buy anywhere hemp rope or twine is sold? Or is it a type of hemp that's made specifically for plumbing thread sealer? My hardware stores and big-box stores do not sell any type of hemp or lamp wick that's specifically made for sealing NPT pipes — only the teflon tape and dope.
slap some of that blue leak lock on it and be done with it
Make sure to start with the hemp, and from the end of the pipe. Make sure no hemp goes inside the pipe. Then, afterwards, apply the paste on top of the hemp.
does it matter in which direction you lay it around the thread? the pipe goes on clockwise, so should the hemp be laid anti clockwise?
You forget to mention the direction in which you put the hemp on the tube.
As a cabinet maker I need to join some pipes from time to time usually when I make kitchens. I have been using Teflon tape for years, but this last time the pipe just wouldn't stop making drops and I made three reattempts. I'm going to try this way tomorrow. PS One of the reasons I use Teflon is the drop in pipe quality and that a colleague of mine cracked the pipe with using too much threads.
I prefer mine
Teflon is toxic C8 PFAS
Hamp and past is moutch better
Thanks. Very informative.
The paste is applied over the hemp usually. Its for anti rust or too much grip in case you'll have to unscrew in future. Hemp is wonderful. On water pipes gets swollen and seals the threads. Teflon is junk !
Thank you for the instruction. Had a problem with a fitting of a water pipe that wouldn't stop leaking. Couldn't get it fixed with the teflon tape. The hemp and paste, with your instruction, worked like a dream!
Thank you very much
Great! Just what I needed. Thank you very much! 👍
Stupid, you're doing almost all the things exactly opposite of what is correct.
For thermal installation-radiator pipe with Hemp or teflon tape?
A plumber told me he knows if a DIY'er did a job like this because they used thread tape and not hemp and they have leaking joints. He explained that the water actually swells the hemp and seals the joint. Thread tape is used on the inside of a female nut connector as well as the hemp on the male threads.
what paste do you use ?
Ok
Why not using Teflon tape? Is using an organic fibre such as mentioned in combination with a mineral sealer safe for consumption? Imagine all that stuff getting into your drinking water ?
sorry but you apply the hemp incorrectly. You mislead people as such with incomplete sealing that is bound to leak way sooner than it should. When you separated like that (1:24) you destroyed the parallel position of the fibers and messed it up. Fibers should be completely clean and neat, just as they are when you buy it. That way it will follow naturally the pipe threading and will not end up knoting in there and get pushed out as you tight up the joint. Also the hemp piece should be pulled out when turned on the threads so it will be tight and not rotate with the female threads. If its not messed up, its not easy to break when pulled, so you can apply some force on the pulling while threading it.
Thanks , bravo
Loose ass threads
Britain banned hemp due to possibility of anthrax.
Brilliant video. Thank you – this really helped me.
very good. im a master plumber in teas and just finish a big job in isreal. they do it almost the same but put the hemp on first and then tephlon tap after because some valves there cannot work if any pipe dope enters the valve
In France in most case (except for gaz and air) we use oakum and paste because it's 100% leak proof if it's well-made and you can turn your fitting a bit if you made a mistake it won't leak . All the plumbers I know use this method.
Anyway everybody's free to work his own way some prefer Teflon, other prefer past and oakum, some like scelent…
Peace 🙏
PS: you don't need to break the thread on galvanise steel pipe and black iron pipe. Only brass fitting need it.
Great video, just what I wanted to know 👌
One of my senior fitter tought me one hack, how to seal BSP threads used in water piping. Apply oil paint & wound cotton thread (which is used in grossary shops) in BSP threads to give strong & leakproof joint.
Stop. Stop stop