Is teflon tape allowed?

[brodywx]

Can I use PTFE thread seal tape to seal up joints in my column, or will it pollute my distillate?

I want to use it in my keg to column connection. I have a (male end) stainless steel pipe that fits inside my 2 in copper pipe. I want to wrap the stainless steel with a bunch of teflon tape to seal it up. I did a pressure test on my column yesterday and it was leaking bad without teflon tape, but once I wrapped it up with copious amounts of tape it didn't leak. It supported a 1.5 meter column of water for a 30 minutes.

I've just heard Teflon tape could be bad if used excessively.

[Braz]

I use it in a similar application to what you are proposing. Based on what I have read here, it is safe to use. I have no independent confirmation though, so take what I say with that in mind.

[myles]

Not sure if you have the female threaded copper fitting on the bottom of your copper tube or not as you don't make it clear, but it is what I use and I DO use PTFE thread tape.

I have the same system on the kegs for both my pot and VM stills and I don't have any issues with it.



Threaded stainless keg adaptor fitted to threaded copper adaptor to 2" copper tube with PTFE thread tape. It is a semi permanent fit as the stainless thread is tapered and cuts into the copper. It could be removed but I do not intend to do so.

[olddog]

I always use heavy duty PTFE tape around the flange on my keg to form a gasket, it has always worked well.


OD

[rad14701]

<off-topic>
myles, is there any actual copper tube in that rig...??? Yikes...!!! My wallet crawled up my ass and my butt cheeks won't unclench enough for me to retrieve it... I'm suffering copper fittings fatigue...
</off-topic>

[olddog]

<off-topic>myles, is there any actual copper tube in that rig...??? Yikes...!!! My wallet crawled up my ass and my butt cheeks won't unclench enough for me to retrieve it... I'm suffering copper fittings fatigue... </off-topic>

I think his dad owns a plumbers merchants supplies.


OD

[Bull Rider]

Take a look at the Teflon tape that's used for natural gas lines. It's about twice the thickness. All of the big box stores carry it in stock, it's yellow instead of white.

Bull.

[brodywx]

I didn't mention myles, but just to state it now: my fittings are not threaded rather the stainless steel is hose barbed, and the copper pipe has no fitting, just a straight cut 2 inch piece.

So the teflon is a more exposed to the vapours, but if you guys are using it without any ill effects that's good enough for me. I think I might just do some test with all my sealants like gaskets and teflon by letting them soak in different distilled products and see if there's any reactions.

[blanikdog]

<off-topic>myles, is there any actual copper tube in that rig...??? Yikes...!!! My wallet crawled up my ass and my butt cheeks won't unclench enough for me to retrieve it... I'm suffering copper fittings fatigue... </off-topic>

I think his dad owns a plumbers merchants supplies.


OD

Yup, I just looked at it and shook my head in disbelief and awe. Beautiful work, myles.

[brodywx]

I agree it is very pretty ($$). Do you have a build thread? I'm very curious what kind of setup you have going on there.

[myles]

HAH! rad.
Yes there are short sections of 2" between the fittings, and it will be 1.4" tube all the way to the thumper, with a 2" output section and dephlegmator above the thumper.

As for the build, yes there is, this one for the boiler

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... &hilit=6kw

and this one for the thumper

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=17823.

I have lots of fittings re-used from previous trials, and when you clean them up they look OK.

And brodywx your stainless hose end in copper tube should be OK if it is tight. You could even get a 2" compression fitting, cut it in half ( or possibly use a 2" dairy fitting) BUT the idea is to fit a compression olive over your 2" tube and use the compression fitting to mould the tube to the barbs in the stainless fitting. Get it tight enough and it will be gass tight with no need for solder , brazing or PTFE.

Just like using a tube insert on microbore tube - just bigger.