Trouble Maintaining Seal - Defective Glacier Tank Spool?

[pharmco]

You should use yellow gas tape, like this. I can't comment on your tape as I haven't used it, but your connections are all leaking a ton. Yellow tape is thicker and rated for gas usage.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MYFPAK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Scalawag]

Right, I know about the yellow tape, but they were out locally.

Isn't thickness the only difference between tapes? This particular style is supposed to be the thickest available, so I figured there couldn't be much difference between this and the yellow. In theory, shouldn't the white have also worked so long as I taped it enough? 6 to 8 wraps per connection.

I'm just confused because like you said, they are leaking excessively despite following all precautions.

 

[Permacultuure]

You need gas tape, try your local RSD if there is one, somebody locally will have it. RSDs is pink but it still works

 

[Scalawag]

I'm just curious: Is there some difference between gas tape and other kinds of PTFE tape besides thickness? Like I said, this gray stuff I just got is VERY thick. May be the same exact tape with a different color, just like RSD's is pink vs. yellow.

 

[Dabtime]

Do you perhaps have to much tape? I feel I read that just 2-3 layers is adequate. Hopefully you get this solve, I've been following your reddit post as well.

 

[Scalawag]

Hey Dabtime,

Thanks for checking out the reddit post too!

I don't think I had too much tape. When I started taking it apart, I noticed the tape gets compressed down to almost nothing. The white stuff is very, very weak. There's a chance I just didn't use enough.

I'm going to go hunt for the gas tape... I figure why fuck around with this other stuff: If I run into another issue, the first thing someone is going to tell me is to use gas tape, so might as well just nip that in the bud so to speak. I've read that about 3 wraps is enough for that tape.

I'll be sure to keep updating. I know it seems a bit clumsy but these are obviously all very realistic issues someone may face going the DIY route.

PS - I should have gotten more Viton gaskets! I feel like these are going to be more reliable than PTFE, especially since I may not mess around with cryo temps for awhile.

 

[Scalawag]

Found the yellow. Gonna re-wrap everything!

 

[hobb3s93]

Found the yellow. Gonna re-wrap everything!

i just put my mkiii together and had a bunch of leaks on taped areas.
i noticed if i tighted them after i had found the leak the leak got bigger.

so finally i taped it once or twice and didnt screw in very hard. i think over tightening cuts the tape and starts the leaks. just something i noticed not sure if its true

 

[Scalawag]

I think that's a good insight! I was definitely tightening the shit out of these connections, and that white tape is so flimsy. Might have ripped it up.

Did you use a wrench still?

 

[flatslabs]

Make sure you are wrapping the tape in the direction of the threads, I do about 3 wraps for the yellow tape. Wrapping the wrong way is counter productive. Take your hand and go over the threads as if I was tightening an imaginary nut to smooth it over the threads, it should look like a plastic coated version of itself.

If you wrap in the wrong direction, when you thread the fitting on you are going to be loosening the tape and removing it rather than tightening it down.

Also yes, do not over tighten as that can cause leaks too especially if you have galled any of the stainless threads from your first attempts.

The best way to get it leak free is to pressurize up to 100psi or so and stick in a barrel of water.

 

[hobb3s93]

I think that's a good insight! I was definitely tightening the shit out of these connections, and that white tape is so flimsy. Might have ripped it up.

Did you use a wrench still?

a guy who helped me at terpp suggested it. did a distill distill yestrday and it seemed to hold.

i used the wrench but not till the point of really having to work at it with the wrench. maybe just one or two circles so it felt tight by hand standards.
but like i said man im still just learning so dont take it as fact yet haaha

ill think ull have better luck with the yellow that white stuff bunches up easliy

just saw that flatslabs post after i posted this. thats very good advice i forgot to say about wrapping in the right direction

 

[Scalawag]

Make sure you are wrapping the tape in the direction of the threads, I do about 3 wraps for the yellow tape. Wrapping the wrong way is counter productive. Take your hand and go over the threads as if I was tightening an imaginary nut to smooth it over the threads, it should look like a plastic coated version of itself.

If you wrap in the wrong direction, when you thread the fitting on you are going to be loosening the tape and removing it rather than tightening it down.

Also yes, do not over tighten as that can cause leaks too especially if you have galled any of the stainless threads from your first attempts.

The best way to get it leak free is to pressurize up to 100psi or so and stick in a barrel of water.

Yup, I luckily got the wrapping direction down from the get go. Thanks though, it's definitely something I constantly have to make sure I'm doing properly.

Just replaced all the tape.

Still getting two leaks, but they are significantly diminished. Two of the same spots as before though. I'll try tightening a little less.

 

[jpdnkstr]

Have you inspected the threads at leak points for possible damage?

 

[SouthernOregonM]

I have NEVER and I mean NEVER had a leak with millrose products. HAd a old plumber that worked on oil rigs tell me this stuff saved him HOURS of re plumbing where it was just a little thead gulling causing the leaks. White ptfe is watertight but the higher pressure gas can move the tape around and actually find weak points. Go get thick yellow tape rated for tane "PURE PTFE." IF that does not work you probably have damage in the threading. The PTFE Blue Monster is AMAZING. It also protects the threads from galling up in the first place. http://cleanfit.com/stainless_steel_pipe_thread_seal_tape_70891.shtml

If you have a leak due to damage to the threads try the even thicker blue monster http://cleanfit.com/blue_monster_ptfe_thread_seal_tape_70885.shtml

ALSO: if you overtighten the tri clamps you can smash your gaskets and make the seal defective and ruin your gaskets. I have a buddy that actually bent a tri clamp reducer with a high pressure clamp from over tightening it. The Gasket Bed Bent and could never seal again.

 

[Snype]

PTFE gaskets require 50 inch pounds of torque on the high pressure clamps, vis a vis 44 inch pounds with a Viton gasket. Hard to get a reliable seal with a hinged clamp and PTFE seals that size.

I have Viton gaskets and 6" high pressure clamps from Glacier. I listened to this post and tried to tighten the bolts down to 44 inch pounds with my torque wrench and both bolts broke. I called Glacier to try and find out how many inch pounds I'm supposed to be using and no body knows. They said there's no way that this is supposed to be 44 inch pounds. Anyone?

 

[zeet]

Hi Snype, I'm pretty sure it's 20 ft lbs torque. That's what I've been tightening mine to and no leaks here.

 

[flatslabs]

Dixon 2 bolt clamps specify 20 ft lbs

 

[Snype]

Hi Snype, I'm pretty sure it's 20 ft lbs torque. That's what I've been tightening mine to and no leaks here.

20 ft pounds is 240 inch pounds. Doesn't sound right. Like I said I went to 44 inch pounds like GW stated and both bolts broke. You are telling me to go over 5 times higher.

 

[Roji]

fwiw I tighten every high pressure clamp to 20 ft lbs. Have never broken a bolt.

 

[Snype]

fwiw I tighten every high pressure clamp to 20 ft lbs. Have never broken a bolt.

20 foot pounds is 240 inch pounds. You sure you don't mean 20 inch pounds? Maybe my new wrench is broken. All the specs that I can find on Sanitary Clamps suggest 30 inch pounds not foot pounds. 30 inch pounds is 2.5 foot pounds.