Thread locker

[AP9]

Hello, sorry if this isn't the appropriate place to put this question, but I figured I'd ask it around here since I'm not finding a consensus elsewhere on the Internet.

Is blue thread locker sufficient for 1/4" NPT brass air fittings with air up to 125 PSI? Or should red be used for ths application?

 

[danthaman1980]

Shouldn't you use Teflon tape on air fittings instead of threadlocker?

 

[Astro14]

I've always used teflon tape...never had a fitting come loose...

 

[scurvy]

Loctite will be fine but that's not really what it was made for... use teflon tape or pipe thread sealant paste.

Good luck getting it back apart.

 

[Vikas]

BITOG is the perfect place to ask about thread locker. It is used liberally here

 

[FXjohn]

I thought they were talking about me

 

[SIXSPEED]

Thread locker compounds are not meant for sealing pipe threads and certainly not the red variety, which will make it extremely difficult to take the joint apart if you ever need to. I typically use Teflon tape or a thread sealer paste like Oatey Great White joint compound for air lines. My local Home Depot carries small tubes of this stuff.

http://www.oatey.com/products/thread-sea...pound-with-ptfe

http://www.oatey.com/doc/Great_White_PJC_06_2012.pdf

 

[default]

You want "pipe dope" tapered threads are naturally locking.

 

[tom slick]

You can use "blue" if you use the correct "blue".
https://tds.us.henkel.com//NA/UT/HNAUTTDS.nsf/web/53F671EEFA4EF5AF882571870000DC8D/$File/TIGHT-EN.pdf

Loctite makes specific pipe thread sealer/lockers such as 545
http://tds.loctite.com/tds5/docs/545-EN.PDF

But as everyone recommends, just use regular pipe sealer.

 

[Rick in PA]

I always keep Teflon tape back about 1 thread from the end of the fitting. That way a loose bit of Teflon tape cannot get into the air line and foul something downstream.

If you have to clean some old Teflon tape off of pipe threads, a small wire brush works nicely.

 

[AP9]

Thanks all for the advice. I had some blue stuff just lying around so I used that and it seems to be working ok.

 

[Woody71]

I recommend Blue Monster PTFE tape/paste