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Old 02-11-2019, 02:29 PM
Joe Swamp Joe Swamp is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 24
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In my own limited experience, I've found that the quality of the threads makes a huge difference -- junky chinese fittings and cheap pipe from HD (made on a worn out threader) is a recipe for leaky joints.

Also, threaded joints actually have a theoretically ideal tightening spec. When I did this big threaded piping job I found this old navy piping manual that specified exactly how many turns they are supposed to be turned after hand tight -- it's more than you think. With 1" pipe it's just over 3 full turns IIRC, just a little more and you bust the fitting.

A plumber once told me that wicking is typically used on old threads being reused. It's interesting that it helped out with sealing air, usually the benefit is for sealing water as the wicking expands with moisture (similar to caulking on old wooden boat hulls).
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