Sometimes it seems to gum up or just doesn’t seal as well as tape for me.
I’ve had the same debate with myself. Pipe dope always felt messier, especially on PVC—sometimes it just squishes out and looks sloppy. I stick with Teflon tape for most things, but I get stuck on the “right” number of wraps too. Usually three or four does the trick for me, but I’ve seen folks go wild with six or more. Maybe it’s just habit, but I’ve never had a leak with tape yet.
I get where you’re coming from with the mess factor—pipe dope can definitely get everywhere if you’re not careful. That said, I’ve actually had better luck with dope on some older metal threads, especially when the fittings aren’t perfect or there’s a bit of corrosion. Teflon tape’s great for most stuff, but in my experience, it can bunch up or tear if you’re not wrapping it just right. I usually do four wraps too, but honestly, it sometimes depends on the brand of tape. Some of the thinner stuff needs more, but the thick, high-density tape is a whole different animal.
On PVC, I’ve had leaks with tape alone, especially under pressure. A thin coat of thread sealant (the non-hardening kind) plus tape has saved me more than once. It’s a little extra work, but sometimes that peace of mind is worth it—especially if you don’t want to be crawling under the sink again in a week.
I’ve run into that same issue with PVC—tape alone just doesn’t always cut it, especially if the threads aren’t super clean or you’re dealing with any kind of pressure. I’ve tried the tape-plus-sealant trick too, and yeah, it’s a bit more hassle but seems to hold up better in the long run.
Curious if anyone’s ever had trouble getting old pipe dope off when redoing a joint? I swear, sometimes it feels like you need a chisel to get that stuff off, especially if it’s been sitting for years. Makes me wonder if there’s a “best” way to clean up old threads before resealing, or if it’s just elbow grease and patience.
Also, has anyone noticed certain brands of Teflon tape just don’t stick or seal as well? I grabbed a cheap roll once and regretted it—felt like wrapping tissue paper around the threads. Maybe it’s worth spending a couple extra bucks for the good stuff...
Getting old pipe dope off is the worst. I’ve spent way too much time scraping at threads with a wire brush and a utility knife, just hoping not to gouge anything. Sometimes I’ll hit it with a little mineral spirits if it’s really stubborn, but honestly, most of the time it’s just elbow grease and muttering under my breath. I’ve heard some folks use those little brass brushes for BBQ grills—never tried it myself, but might be worth a shot.
And yeah, cheap Teflon tape is basically useless. I made that mistake once and ended up with a slow drip that drove me nuts for days. The thicker stuff (usually yellow or pink) seems to work way better, especially if you’re dealing with any kind of pressure. It’s one of those things where spending an extra couple bucks saves you a lot of hassle later.
I’m always paranoid about over-tightening too... stripped threads are no fun to fix. Guess that’s why I take my time and double-check everything before turning the water back on.
That mineral spirits trick is a lifesaver, but I’ve had mixed luck with it depending on how ancient the pipe dope is. I’ve actually tried those BBQ brass brushes—worked better than I expected, but you gotta be gentle or you’ll end up with little brass hairs everywhere. As for Teflon tape, totally agree: the cheap stuff is like trying to seal a leak with tissue paper. One time I used the white tape on a gas line (rookie mistake), and it leaked just enough to make me paranoid for weeks. Now I keep a roll of the thick yellow stuff in my toolbox, just in case.
Over-tightening is where I always second-guess myself. Once snapped a fitting clean off and had to chase down a replacement at 9pm... not my finest hour. Sometimes I wonder if there’s a perfect “feel” you get after enough busted knuckles and leaks, or if we’re all just winging it half the time.