How to wind flax on a thread? Plumbing linen (tow)

The question of how to wind flax on the thread, arises in many people, just as often you have to face the problem of choosing between a ribbon and flax. Each option is preferred for different situations. In some cases, they can be interchangeable.

Benefits

Plumbing linen is the standard sealant for threaded joints, it can also be found under the name of the tow. It has many advantages, among which it is worth noting the following:

• Resistance to mechanical impact. This material is the best option for sealing plumbing fixtures. When it is used, it becomes possible to adjust while maintaining tightness.
• In the process of wetting, flax increases its volume. That is, you can not worry if there is a small leak after the connection is completed, as it will be eliminated on its own. The material begins to swell from the effects of moisture and, thus, blocks the leak.
• Versatility. The correct winding allows you to use for various types of connections.
• Low cost. Compared with other seals, this option is much cheaper. The main thing is to choose high-quality reeling, it should be light, realized in the form of a bay or a pigtail, thus there should be no lumps and inclusions.

Features

Despite the existing advantages, there were some moments complicating the application:

• Care must be taken in the process of working with bronze and brass, as it is possible to damage the thread when winding a thick layer.
• Before use, the thread must be carefully prepared. Today, fittings with thread intended for linen winding are on the market. They can be identified by special incisions. If they are not available, you can use pliers or a file. The serrations prevent the flax from knocking down and slipping.
• Before winding flax on the thread, it must be treated with suitable compounds - it can be oil-based paint, silicone, sealant or salt. Since this winding is an organic material, it is subject to the development of putrefactive processes in contact with water and air. The latter is annually in heating and water supply systems during preventive maintenance or repair. Special compounds prevent the destruction of the material.

Tools for processing

Some special compounds can complicate the dismantling of connections, the need for which occurs when leakage occurs, the connection of new elements or during the replacement of certain parts. Paint and silicone contribute to the gluing of the elements and, as a consequence, to the difficulty of disconnection, in some cases it becomes impossible. In the absence of associated equipment or illiterate winding on steel parts, there are similar problems caused by the occurrence of corrosion damage on the joint.

The tow of linen should be wound only in accordance with established rules. To begin with, it is treated with a suitable tool, and a thread is prepared for it. The direction of winding must follow the threads of the thread. Further beyond it the remaining part is pulled out and stretched, at this time the connection is tightened and tightened. How much flax is wound on the thread? This can be determined from the tightness of the fitting on it.

Which is better: linen or fum-tape?

To the materials used for the organization of hot water supply, special requirements are made. They also apply to the means used for rewinding. Due to the high temperature of the liquid in the pipes, the winding must have a high tightness and a resistance to temperature influence. Flax meets these requirements, while the fum-tape is not the best material. When connected, it is divided into a number of fibers, sealing voids and preventing water leakage. The high temperatures that are characteristic of the water pipe with hot water and the heating system lead to the squeezing of the fibers. Because of this, the risk of leakage increases.

As for the other characteristics, it should be noted that the fiber sponge is cheaper than the foil tape, even if the material is used for processing. If in small-scale works the difference is not so noticeable, then with active use it is possible to obtain substantial savings. But the tape accelerates the work. Thus, it is impossible to say unequivocally what is better: linen or foil tape, since each material is suitable for various tasks.

Combination of two materials

In some cases, a combination of flax and a ribbon tape is used to obtain a better connection. There are two possible variants: flax is covered with several turns of tape or both materials are wound in turn. Despite the effectiveness, this method has not become widespread due to the peculiarities of winding conditions.

Preparatory work

Before the flax is wound on the thread, a connection is prepared. This is necessary to prevent the material from slipping or slipping from a flat surface. If the flax is not held in place, the degree of sealing will be extremely low. To fix the fibers, special notches are placed on the turns. They can be cut using a hacksaw on metal, file or nadfile. In the absence of such tools, you can use the pliers and, holding the thread as hard as possible, squeeze it - should turn around the circle of turns small notches. Also, as mentioned earlier, it is possible to purchase fittings that are specially manufactured for plumbing.

How to wind flax on a thread: the instruction

The fibers are separated by small strands. It is worth noting the need for careful selection of the thickness of the strands, since the winding should have an average thickness. When detecting lumps or foreign elements, they must be removed. Plumbers use various options, for example, unwinding a loose strand or braided into a pigtail. This is necessary to simplify the work, while the quality of the connection remains unchanged.

Next, plumbing flax, pretreated with a special compound, is wound on the thread. Also, you can first apply the composition to the surface, then wrap the material, and from above distribute an additional layer. The effectiveness of both options is at the same level.

Regardless of the method used, the tow is wound in accordance with the direction of the thread. The first coil should act as a lock: for this, it is superimposed by a cross, at this time one side of the strand should be clamped by hand. Sealing thread flax should be as tight as possible, and there should be no gaps between the threads. Then the strand is brought to the edge of the thread and is glued with a suitable material.