How to properly wind winding onto a threaded connection. Correct winding of flax on thread

There’s nothing complicated about it, so let’s try it. We wind the flax onto the thread evenly in the direction of the thread, but there is a small nuance, depending on the fitting you are winding on and the one you will be screwing on.

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

How to properly wind flax on eco-plastic sleeves

Also, do not overdo it when connecting ecoplastic couplings; the internal brass thread can also burst. Before winding flax onto the threads, first simply screw these two fittings onto each other, and count the number of turns by which they are screwed, for example 5. Wind flax evenly over the entire thread, then I would advise using investment paste, not sealant, coat flax paste and connect the fittings to each other, in this example I recommend twisting the fittings 4 - 4.5 turns. There is no need to pull until the end, that is, 5 turns.

There is now such a popular thing as fum tape, but I definitely wouldn’t advise you to use it to produce any packaging of fittings. About 6 years ago I tried to work with this tape a couple of times, and switched back to linen. Watch the video on winding flax below.

In our everyday life sooner or later each of us has to do minor repairs, in which it is necessary to wind the threads with flax. Most often this concerns the radiator or plumbing. Faced with this problem home handyman It is advisable to have skills in using flax (tow). Such knowledge will certainly be useful to each of us.

It is known that water pipes are made from materials such as metal, plastic, as well as metal-plastic and nylon. In all of them, regardless of the material, adapters are required for connecting other pipes. Below we will talk about such connections; we will look in detail at how flax is used for this.

Over time, home craftsmen may sooner or later be faced with the question of how to wind the threads of a water tap. You should know that in order to tightly connect a pipe with water supply elements, there is a so-called method of doing the work, “packing threaded connections,” for which flax is used.

In the case when there is a need to pack two pipes at right angles using a coupling, the best option would be at their ends. The coupling itself will consist of threads on the inside and turns on the outside. Simply twisting them together will be incomplete. In this case, it is recommended to seal the threads 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, you need to choose only high-quality flax. Typically, high-quality material is supplied in a braid or loose coil. Also pay attention to the presence of lumps; they should not be there.
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 you wind the flax on threaded connection You should pay attention to the fact that this material is capable of swelling, as it absorbs moisture. Such characteristics greatly increase the tightness, since there will be no leakage paths.
This material also has high mechanical resistance, which makes it possible to adjust plumbing fixtures without losing its hermetic properties. The connections themselves can be unscrewed a full turn or unscrewed half a turn.

If you have a question about how to wind flax onto a thread, be sure to check out the information available in this material its disadvantages.

Disadvantages when using:

Since the substance that forms its basis is organic, it is susceptible to rotting when exposed to moisture and air. They can get inside during preventive examinations. To avoid such problems add tow additional material preventing the process of decay. Such an addition could be a sealing paste, solid oil or lithol.
In some cases, before you start winding, you should first do the carving, prepare, clean, etc. Most manufacturers of pipes and fittings make a threaded connection already fully prepared for further work, that is, for winding with flax. Special notches are made on the threaded turns to prevent the flax from slipping along the thread turns and to prevent the flax from bunching up. 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 lay the material in 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 you are required to have knowledge of working with flax, then you must 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: In some cases, additions of this kind make the installation procedure simply impossible.
You should also not use flax where the temperature can reach 90 degrees. Due to the fact that the material in such places is simply welded, losing its sealing properties. When working with steel, you must also adhere to the required technology winding, since if it is not observed, the thread is subject to corrosion.

How to seal a new thread

Before you start wrapping a new thread with flax, you must first prepare the turns. Today, a number of manufacturers produce fittings with pre-cut threads and special notches for winding flax. You should know that on a smooth thread the material will simply slide off and also bunch up, which will certainly lead to a violation of the tightness. Fibers can catch well only if there are notches on the turns.

Such notches can be made with a regular file and a hacksaw for metal or a needle file. Some craftsmen use a plumbing wrench and even pliers for this. To do this, the thread is grasped, and serifs are applied with light pressure. When performing this procedure, try to achieve roughness on the turns.

Before winding flax onto the thread, you need to separate one strand from the whole braid. Here it is very important to take the required number of fibers so that the winding is not so thin, but do not forget that it should not be thick. As a rule, experts recommend exactly the thickness that would correspond to one or two matches. If there are lumps or small fibers in the strand, then all this should be removed.

Rules for performing work

Flax can be wound onto threads using your own technology. Options may vary. So some craftsmen twist it in the form of a tourniquet, others simply braid it into a regular braid, or you can, if desired, apply it using the loose thread method.

Additional lubricant (paste) can also be applied in different ways. You can, for example, smear only clean threads and then wrap them with fibers. Then apply another additional layer. As an option, soak the fibers well in advance and prepare them afterwards.

If circumstances force you to think about how to properly wind tow on a thread, and you want to understand exactly how to do it clockwise or counterclockwise, then it’s best for you to listen to the opinions of experts. Can be used here different variants. So some wind this strand along the thread, while others do the opposite.

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. You should not leave any gaps. The coils need to be laid one next to the other. When you make a connection, the excess material used 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.

A special paste intended for plumbing must be applied to the linen wrapped around it, or any other sealing material is 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, you should make sure that the pipe lumen is not filled with sealing material.

After reading these recommendations, you have an idea about winding this seal. You can also see photos of such works in the article. But with all this, it will be difficult for you to understand that all elements need to be tightened with a certain small amount of effort. In the case, say, when the nut goes easily, this indicates that there is not enough flax. High-quality winding is when the flax itself will not come out, and the entire surface around such a connection will remain clean.

You should also know that organic tow is not used for gas connections. The reason for this is that when exposed to gas, such tow and the silicone used additionally simply collapse. In such cases, it would be justified to use fum tape, as we already wrote in the previous article.

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 it.

Before you start working, both fittings need to be connected to each other while counting the number of revolutions. The flax is wound evenly and its entire surface needs to be smeared with additional lubricant and then both fittings can be connected. If you counted 5 turns idle, then after you wind the flax, it would be correct to make approximately 4.5 turns and, which is very important, you do not need to press it to the end. Instead of using sealant, the best solution in this situation is packaging paste.

Often, at home, craftsmen have to wonder how to correctly wind tape onto a threaded connection. old pipe. In such situations the best option, is to dismantle the connections and at the same time inspect the threads.

As for the coils, you need to go over them with the tip of a knife blade or with an awl. This way you will clean the threads from any debris that has formed on them, and this will help, for example, remove old paint from iron. Before winding the ribbon, the windings should be thoroughly cleaned using metal brush up to the formation of shine.

Video: How to wind flax

1. Purpose of tow and how it works.
2. Varieties of sealing materials.
3. Method of sealing pipe threads with tow.
In plumbing work, tow is used to seal pipes and transitions connected by threads. It is made mainly from flax waste and is a coarse fiber small sizes. If you wind the tow correctly, protection against leaks will be provided throughout the life of the pipeline. Answering the question of how to wind tow on a thread, it should be said that the quality of workmanship prevents the risk of leaks in the plumbing system.
There is a gap between the threaded connections through which water freely flows out of the pipeline. If it contains properly laid plumbing tow, then the gap becomes smaller, and as water penetrates into such a connection, the flax swells and the leakage stops.

Types of sealing materials.

The main materials that create a sealed layer between threaded connections include:
- plumbing tow;
- FUM tape;
- liquid FUM.
Silicone is used as an additional material to tow, but by itself, due to its properties, cannot provide reliable protection connections against leaks.
FUM is a thread winder consisting of Teflon tape that is not wetted by water and creates a water-repellent layer in joints.
Liquid FUM - one-component sealant of blue color, upon contact with air, slowly hardens and forms a fairly strong and dense filler, which prevents the flow of water from the system. But, if when using the above listed materials, pressure testing of the water supply can be done immediately, then after using liquid FUM, before checking the system, you need to wait a certain time, depending on the diameter and ambient temperature.

Method of sealing pipe threads with tow.

High-quality thread winding is carried out using the following materials and tools:
- two pipe lever wrenches;
- sanitary tow;
- FUM tapes.

Let us consider the procedure for obtaining a high-quality sealed threaded connection using the example of combining a union nut (American) with external thread 1 inch and check valve.
From the tow we separate a strand of length, approximately equal to 5 - 7 turns with a diameter of 1 inch and the density indicated in the photo.

We apply the resulting workpiece to the beginning of the American connecting element, while its thread should be directed towards you, and we wind it clockwise, along the course of the turns and back. We bring the end of the tow to the beginning of the thread and smooth it with our fingers, clockwise. In the end, it should look like in the photo.

Then, we wrap the FUM on this part clockwise so that it completely covers the plumbing flax and lays on it in 2 - 3 layers.

Teflon tape prevents the tow from rotating and moving off the part. We bait the American woman check valve and using keys we tighten them until a noticeable load occurs.

Such a combined winding of threads, with appropriate skill, almost always ensures reliable joining of two detachable pipeline elements. When all components of the system are assembled, it is necessary to pressurize it at a pressure of approximately 1 bar and inspect all threaded connections for leaks.
When using low-quality parts, the amount of winding should be slightly reduced, since during the process of flax swelling, forces arise that can lead to damage to the part.

IN Everyday life Sometimes there is a need for minor repairs where the thread requires rewinding. This could be plumbing, radiators, which means that sooner or later any owner in the house has to learn how to use tow correctly. Water pipes There are metal (galvanized or iron), plastic, metal-plastic and nylon (used for laying underground). Each type has adapters for connecting other pipes; these connections will be discussed. Hermetically connecting pipes and other elements of the water supply system is called “packing”. For example, we need to pack two pipes at an angle of 90° using a coupling that screws onto their threaded ends. The coupling consists of an internal thread (female) and external threads (male). Simply twisting them will not be enough: for correct connection The thread must be sealed.

Plumbing tow is fibrous material, which is used to seal threads. This is a completely natural product obtained from the primary processing of homogeneous, thin, long-fiber flax, which is extracted from the stem of the plant.

The scope of application of tow is very wide. Depending on the production technology, it can be tape, construction, jute and sanitary. Construction tow is reliable way insulation of almost any connection. For its production, fully combed short flax fibers are used, and it is supplied in bales. This material is intended for construction work for sealing seams, laying and insulating log houses. Being natural, flax is especially valued among those who build wooden houses. If construction tow is supplied in rolls of a certain width, then it is called strip tow. Linen tape tow is a material for caulking up to 1 cm thick. It is used for sealing seams and voids in log houses and laying crowns.

What is used for reeling? Classic version– good old flax (also called tow or hemp), fum tape, anaerobic sealants And polyamide thread Tangit.

There have been debates about what is best to use for many years, but no clear answer has been found. The fact is that the material is selected depending on the type of work and can be interchangeable and complementary.

Let's talk about the advantages of flax for plumbing work:

the main “plus” of flax tow is its price - cheaper than any other material;
it is used sparingly;
its thin fibers are very durable;
with proper winding, it is suitable for any type of work with any connections, including sealing cast iron and ceramic pipes;
flax can swell, absorbing possible moisture, thereby hermetically blocking the path to leakage;
the high mechanical stability of the material allows you to adjust the plumbing fixtures: without losing the hermetic properties, you can unscrew the connection half a turn or a full turn.

The disadvantages of tow include the following aspects:

because flax is organic matter, it tends to rot under the influence of moisture and air that enter it, for example, during routine examinations. For this purpose, tow is always accompanied by additional material that prevents putrefactive processes (sealing paste, solid oil, Oil paint, litol and others);
thread preparation is often required;
too much thick layer material can lead to cracking of joints, especially bronze and brass;
This is a seal that requires knowledge of winding rules. On a whim, nothing good will come of it;
accompanying materials in combination with flax can make disassembly difficult, for example, oil paint and silicone can make the dismantling process impossible;
flax is not suitable for use where temperatures reach 90 °C. In such places, it “welds” over time and loses its sealing properties;
If we are dealing with steel, then non-compliance with the winding technology can even lead to thread corrosion.

How to choose linen?

The main thing is to pay attention to the quality of tow before you buy it: flax should be sold, not tightly tied with a braid or coil, be light color, free from impurities, debris and lumps. There is also tow on sale, laid in the form of a skein of thread, from the middle of which you can pull out a ready-made strand. The last option is slightly more expensive than the others. Be sure to pay attention that the tow is not too rough and does not have an unpleasant odor.

In addition to flax, we purchase additional material. These can be sealing pastes “Multipak”, “Unipack” or “Greenpasta”, which serve to ensure that the tow does not deteriorate, does not burn under the influence of temperatures and can be dismantled. The contents of the Unipaka tube are a light gray non-drying mass based on paraffin oil with an admixture of natural minerals.

If flax is not treated with anything, the tightness of the connection will not last long. In addition, using paste allows you to slightly adjust the twisting force.

It is strictly not recommended to use silicone sealant in contact with metal, since it contains acetic acid, accelerating the oxidation process, and, consequently, metal corrosion. Use neutral sealants. Various automotive ones or those designed to eliminate leaks of water, oil and other liquids are suitable.

How to wind tow on a new thread?

Before starting work, let's prepare the coils. Today, many manufacturers produce fittings with threads that have notches, that is, specially designed for winding flax. The fact is that on a smooth thread during installation, the flax will slide off, bunching up into a clump, and the sealing process will be disrupted.

To give the fibers something to cling to, the coils must have serrations. They can be applied with a needle file, a file, a hacksaw for metal, using pliers or a plumber's wrench, grasping the thread and applying notches with light pressure. The main thing is to achieve a slight roughness on the turns.
Now we separate one strand from the flax braid. Try to capture enough fibers so that the winding is neither too thin nor too thick. It is believed that its thickness should be as thick as one, or maximum two matches. If you notice lumps or small villi in the strands, they need to be removed.
How to apply it is an individual matter. Someone twists the flax into a rope, someone braids it into a weak braid, someone puts the strand loose, as it is.
The order of applying additional material can also be different: you can lubricate the thread with it, wrap it with fibers, and then apply another layer; You can pre-impregnate the tow fibers with it, and then wind them up. Both options are correct.
Some recommend winding the strands along the thread, others are against it, there is no single rule here.
We pinch the end of the strand with our finger outside the turns, making the first turn crosswise to secure the tow.
Then, as tightly as possible, without making any gaps, wind the flax, turn to turn.
One nuance: if you connect, for example, a steel coupling and an iron pipe, then the excess flax will simply be squeezed out of the fitting, thanks to its power. Brass connections, especially modern ones, will simply burst under strong pressure.
We take a small amount of plumbing paste or other sealing material and distribute it around the wound flax with rotational movements. We try to ensure that the work is neat.
We glue the second end closer to the edge of the thread with the accompanying material.
Before twisting, be sure to check whether the hole in the pipe is clogged with flax.
Tighten with moderate force. If the nut goes too easily, it means you didn’t put in enough flax. When winding is done correctly, the flax should not come out and the area around the joint should be clean.

How to wrap tow on ecoplastic products?

Like brass threads, plastic also tends to break. Therefore, the main thing is not to overdo it. Before winding, connect both fittings by counting the number of turns. Then wind the flax evenly, coating it with additional material, and connect the fittings. If there were 5 revolutions “idling”, then make about 4.5 revolutions - there is no need to reach the end. Note: in this case it is more advisable to use investment paste instead of sealant.

If, when tightening, you feel that it is very tight, disassemble and wind a smaller amount of tow.

How to work with an old fitting?

If the package leaks or it is necessary to dismantle the connection for other reasons, after unscrewing we inspect the thread. At the “mother’s” we go through the coils with the edge of a knife or an awl, removing all the accumulated debris.

We also scoop out the contents of the “daddy” with a knife, cutting off the remaining tow along with the sealing substance. Use a wire brush to clean the coils until shiny. With its hard bristles, it removes dirt, rust and sealant residues in the most hard to reach places. If a used thread is damaged, it will be useful to run it on the “male” with a thread-cutting tool, and on the “male” to correct it with the tip of a knife.

Not everyone knows that tow is also called plumbing flax, but the fact that it serves as an excellent sealed connector for any threaded element is familiar to many. In addition, a novice plumber may be confused by such a simple procedure as winding flax around butt joints. Let's consider the process of correctly winding tow, so that in the future you will not have to redo any work in which it was involved.

It doesn’t matter what needs to be connected to each other - when doing plumbing or any other work, the elements of the threaded connection must be sealed to create a tightness. In this case, tow will serve as a classic and cheap option for winding. It is suitable for absolutely any type of joint elements, if, of course, it is wound correctly. The advantages of this seal also include the fact that during service it swells and increases in volume. This ability will help close any leak, even if it forms immediately after connection. However, winding tow requires some skill, taking into account some points. This process will be discussed below. First, pay attention to the type of thread. They come in two main types - clean thread (without notches) and thread with serrations (notches). In the first case, tightness will not be achieved even by winding flax, because it will simply slide and bunch up in the process of fastening the elements. Therefore, first prepare the thread - take any available tool (hacksaw, needle file, pliers, etc.) and make notches on the smooth thread yourself. Now the flax fibers will cling perfectly to the artificially created notches.

Take the tow and separate a small strip of fibers from the main braid, after combing it, eliminating all the tufts and straightening out the lumps. Then straighten the fibers and twist them into a common rope. Choose the thickness of the strand by eye, so that it fills the inside of the notches. Important: if there are not enough flax fibers, then the seal will become leaky. Further actions can develop according to two scenarios. The first is to apply a special substance to the thread before winding, and then wind it with dry fibers and apply the material on top again. The second option is to first saturate the tow strands with the accompanying substance, and only then wind them. In any case, the result will be the same, choose the method that seems more convenient to you. The process of winding with flax looks like this: apply a rope made of tow fibers approximately with its center to the thread so that 5 notches are passed from its edge. Then, fixing the rope with your fingers, begin to wind it in the direction opposite to the threads. At the same time, cross the unused piece of tow so that its second end is clamped into the “lock”. Connect the two ends of the rope and continue winding the flax until the end of the thread. Make sure that each new skein is pressed tightly against the previous one, without creating crowding of the fibers. Check on each side to make sure there are no gaps. Scroll the thread with your fingers, evenly distributing the tow along the notches. Glue the end of the strand with a special lubricant closer to the edge, only after that stop fixing the tow with your fingers. You can apply silicone on top of the fibers to protect against water. Now you can start assembling the elements.

If the flax winding was carried out correctly, it was taken into account required thickness twisted rope, its uniform and careful distribution along the thread turns, without gaps - the threaded connection will serve you as long and stably as possible.

The debate about what is better to use as a sealant for threaded connections (windings) - flax or fum tape - has not subsided for years. 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, what can we say about non-professionals? But even mere mortals sometimes need to connect something together. And it’s hermetically sealed. Let’s try to break down the recommendations “on the shelves”. About the properties of fum tape and its winding technology. And today our review is dedicated to flax, or tow, for plumbing work.

The content of the article:

Plumbing 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 purchasing, you need to pay attention to quality. Good flax is sold in a braid or loose coil, has no lumps, and is clean (light in appearance).

Versatility. Suitable for any type of connection. Of course, with proper winding.

The ability to increase volume during swelling. That is, if immediately after the connection there is a small leak, it very soon “closes” itself. Flax fibers get wet and, swelling, cover small leaks.

Mechanical resistance. The only material that allows you to more accurately orient plumbing fixtures. You can, if necessary, make a half-turn back without losing the tightness.

But there are also disadvantages:

It is mandatory to use accompanying materials with it (lithol, grease, fum-let, sealing 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 air enters the water supply or heating systems during repairs or preventive inspections, which must be carried out annually. The accompanying material is designed to prevent rotting.

Requires special thread preparation. Many manufacturers of fittings make their threads already prepared for winding with flax. The threads have notches. If they are not there, then they need to be applied to plumbers (with a file, pliers, or less often with a hacksaw). They are needed so that the flax, during the joining process, does not slip along the turns of the thread and does not come together in a bundle.

Requires caution in brass and bronze connections. A layer that is too thick can break the thread and cracks will appear.

Plumbing linen is the only material that is very demanding in terms of compliance with winding rules. In addition to the already mentioned preparation of the thread, you need to prepare the flax itself: soak it with the accompanying material to prevent rotting. Then wind, observing the direction of the thread turns, that is, against the winding. Bring the ends of the fibers outside the thread area, pull them and, holding them with your finger, screw the connection onto the thread and tighten.

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 glue the parts of the connection to each other in such a way that the process of separation can be quite difficult, sometimes simply impossible. The same problems arise when separating steel elements, when incorrectly wound flax (or without accompanying material) as a result of rotting allows rust to occur in the threaded connection.

Which is better: linen or fum tape?

When it comes to sealing threaded connections, the first thought that comes to mind is plumbing. When installing a water supply system for cold water from steel pipes Neither flax nor fum tape have obvious advantages. The main thing is to wind the seal correctly. But when this water supply is installed from or, fum tape is preferable. Its advantage in this case is explained by speed. Non-metallic water pipes are installed faster than steel ones. And reducing the installation speed just because of winding (and winding flax is more difficult and takes longer) is not effective. In addition, the threads of the fittings are smooth and neat, and in such conditions fum tape is more effective. But it should be remembered that when connecting fittings with a diameter greater than 20 mm, fum tape is inferior in sealing quality. In such connections, plumbing flax turns out to be more effective.

Installation of water supply for hot water and heating dictates its requirements. Including in terms of winding. In addition to the presence of water in the pipes, you need to consider that it is hot. That is, the winding must not only be airtight, but also resist the effects of temperature. Fum tape has not proven itself in this regard. in the best possible way. At the moment of connection, the fum tape splits into fibers and they clog the voids of the connection, blocking the passages for water. Under influence high temperatures, which must be present in the heating system and are possible in the hot water supply system, these fibers are compressed. Often this is enough to cause a leak. Linen is temperature resistant.

If we take into account the other properties of these materials, 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 installation speed.

There are also cases when the most effective is a combination of flax and fum tape. The turns of the fum tape are laid with flax fibers. Or vice versa, one or two turns of fum tape are wound over the flax winding. This decision is not often made by plumbers, due to the peculiarities of the installation or operation conditions of the pipeline.

And lastly, 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, the flax during the joining process may not hold on, slip, or get bunched up. Of course, in this case there can be no question of any sealing. The threads should have serrations that will catch the flax fibers. This will allow the winding to stay in place and provide a seal. These notches are made with a needle file, a file, and, if possible, with a hacksaw. In extreme cases, you can use pliers to strongly squeeze the thread in a circle; the ribbed jaws will leave nicks on the thread turns. Manufacturers of fittings often produce threads already prepared for plumbing linen.

Then a strand of fibers is separated from the flax braid. It is important to choose a strand of suitable thickness so that the winding is neither thin nor too thick. There should be no lumps in the strand: if there are any, they need to be removed. Some plumbers twist a strand of flax fibers before winding, some braid thin braids, and some wind the strand as is, loose. It doesn't matter what suits you. This does not affect the final result.

Then there are two options for subsequent actions. You can apply the accompanying material to the thread, wind dry flax fibers and then apply another layer of material. Or you can reel in strands of flax already soaked in 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 flax turns in the direction of the thread. The end of the strand is clamped with a finger outside the thread, the first turn is made as a “lock”. That is, it is applied with a cross to clamp the end. Then the strand is wound as tightly as possible, turn to turn, without gaps. After winding is completed, the end of the strand is glued to the accompanying material closer to the edge of the thread.

In order to achieve strength and tightness of the connection, builders and plumbers use flax or special linen tow in their work, which is wound onto the threads of the joint elements.

To truly achieve the results you want, it is important to know how to wind flax on threads correctly.

Instructions on how to wind flax on a thread

In order to properly wind flax on a thread you will need:
- tow (linen);
- silicone;
- plumbing key.

Prepare connecting elements, having previously cleaned them of rust, if any. For this you can use fine grit sandpaper. When removing rust, be careful not to damage the threads.

Take the tow and separate a small strip of fibers from the main bundle, which you straighten along its entire length. There should be enough fiber to make the connection dense, but not tight, otherwise when the temperature rises, for example, in a heating pipe, the connection may simply burst. In addition, excess flax will be squeezed out of the threaded connection during assembly, and this will almost certainly cause a new leak.

Please note that pipelines with screw-cut threads, as a rule, have a fairly rough surface, but fittings with smooth surface need to be prepared. To do this, use a plumber's wrench or a triangular file to apply small notches over the threads.

Take the flax and place the end of the fiber against the very edge of the thread. Start winding the tow in the opposite direction from tightening the nut. It should be wound in such a way that each subsequent turn tightly presses the previous one. If there is not enough flax fiber to cover the entire thread, take another bunch.

Apply over the fiber that is wound on the thread. thin layer silicone or special paste: this will allow the connection to be sealed.

Tighten the threads while the silicone has not yet polymerized. Remember, before this ends chemical reaction there are 8-10 minutes. There is no point in securing the small amount of tow that will remain outside the joint - the sealant will hold the flax well. However, plumbers working with metal pipes, sometimes they just singe the end of the bunch. Doing this at home is not recommended.

Tow for pipes is one of the most popular sealants on Russian market. popular for many decades due to its low price, availability and relatively good sealing of connections when special conditions. on threads is relevant for temporary threaded connections and those located in the public domain, i.e. are always in sight, leaks are easy to detect and fix immediately. Flax compounds work up to a maximum temperature of 120-140 °C, but sometimes this figure is reduced to 70 °C. It all depends on the quality of the material and additional means sealing - plumbing paste.

Let's talk about the technology and rules of flax winding. How to properly wrap tow on a thread so that the sealing is sufficient for the entire shelf life of the joint? What are the tricks and professional secrets for high-quality thread sealing?

How to wind tow

This question is asked not only by the owner of an apartment where a faucet has suddenly leaked or the faucet needs to be replaced, but also by a plumber who has recently started his career. , indeed, not the simplest and comfortable material. Linen does not look aesthetically pleasing, it fluffs up and tears easily, and flax fibers constantly cling to threads or clothing. Almost weightless, they scatter around the room and, having finished the work, the plumber has to spend time finding and collecting all the threads.

When repairing a pipeline, the main requirement is the tightness of the connections. The functionality and trouble-free operation of plumbing, heating, gas and other systems depend on them. How is tightness achieved?

Most often, when installing and repairing a water supply system, a threaded connection is used - it is inexpensive, fast and practical. Having only at hand wrench, the plumber can easily disassemble and reassemble the system and replace the failed unit. But the thread does not guarantee that the connection will be perfect; some other sealing component is needed.

What sealants does the building materials market offer?

There are several types of sealing materials that differ in cost, convenience and reliability of use:

FUM tape (fluoroplastic sealing material)
Sealing thread
Linen thread

Among all the FUM proposals, the tape is quite capricious in use; the sealing thread has good qualities, but too expensive, and only flax is an impeccable remedy that has proven itself over many decades.

How to properly wind flax on a thread?

In order for the connection to be strong and tight, the threaded areas must be cleaned of rust using fine-grained sandpaper. At this stage it is important not to damage the threads. Then you should check whether there are notches on the thread - with them, the laid flax threads are fixed and do not move when connecting the parts. If there are no notches, they can be applied with a file or a plumbing wrench.

Proper winding of flax consists of several steps:

Check the tightness of the connection with a clean, flax-free thread to understand how thick the winding should be.
Take a bunch of flax and separate a strand of sufficient thickness from it to obtain a tight connection. The flax hairs should be the same length, without lumps, straw or debris.
Twist the strand into a loose rope of such thickness that it can fill one thread groove.
Holding the end of the flax rope at the edge of the thread, wind it in the direction opposite to how the nut is tightened. Each subsequent turn should fit tightly to the previous one. Here it is important not to overdo it with the number of layers, there should be no more than two, otherwise the connection may burst when tightened or from hot water during operation. If the bundle turns out to be short, winding should be continued with the next bundle.
Inspect reverse side winding and make sure there are no bald spots.
Apply a layer of special paste or silicone on top of the flax and tighten the connection until the paste hardens. The use of a sealing composition contributes to the durability of the connection, prevents rotting of the flax, and makes it easy to disassemble the structure in the future. Sealant should not be used as a sealant; such a connection is difficult to disassemble.

In our everyday life, sooner or later, each of us has to make minor repairs that require winding the threads with flax. Most often this concerns the radiator or plumbing. When faced with such a problem, it is advisable for a home craftsman to have skills in using flax (tow). Such knowledge will certainly be useful to each of us.

Over time, home craftsmen may sooner or later be faced with the question of how to wind the threads of a water tap. You should know that in order to tightly connect a pipe with water supply elements, there is a so-called method of doing the work, “packing threaded connections,” for which flax is used.