1/4 turn supply stops--question

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FatDaddy

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Is sweating preferred to compression? They are under a kitchen sink and while the counter is being replaced I thought I would replace the stops as well.They work,but are sort of old and crusty.
If both methods are the same,perhap I should go with no-sweat since my soldering is not perfect.
Thanks in advance.
 

hj

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stops

Let's put it this way. I know how to solder, but have not installed a single sweat fixture stop, EVER. Either screw on or compression, with very few screw on except for replacements.
 

FatDaddy

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Thanks for the quick response.

The whole house had stops that were sweated on. I think I may try to go the compression fitting route this time.
Alan
 

hj

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If the plumber was going to solder one on, he would have done the whole house the same way. In a union area, they would do it to make a homeowner repair more difficult, thus increasing the likelihood that he would call a plumber to do it.
 

FatDaddy

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Any tricks to a compression fitting onto 1/2" copper?

I will be attaching hot and cold flexible supple lines to the stops.Using TFF Paste as well unless advised not to.
 

Jimbo

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Compression fittings should not have paste, and especially no teflon tape. You can use a light brushing of plumbers grease, or light machine oil, on the threads and ferrule to ease future disassembly.
 

FatDaddy

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Sorry. I will paste the male side where the flexible

supply line will attach,not the 1/2" copper side.

Not unless you want a leak there. Flexible supply lines have their own seals, anything else you put in there ruins the seal
Terry Love
 
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Gardner

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supply line will attach,not the 1/2" copper side.

That is also a compression fitting, unless you take the nut off and attach a braided supply line. The braided lines have a rubber gasket at each end. Either way, no dope, no tape.
 

FatDaddy

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Ok. I guess I am the dope!

I recall a person (not here) telling me to use Teflon paste on the male side of the stop where I will be attaching the braided flex line.If you say not to,I won't.
Thanks.
 

Kingsotall

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If it ruins the seal I'm not putting pipe dope on 'em either. Some people just slather it on everything, like it's going outta style.
 

Redwood

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When I use compression I grease the threads on the side using the brass ferrule and the braided supply goes on dry. Careful in the brass ferrule se do not over tighten it as it causes leakage.
 

FatDaddy

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Well.The story continues.

Now,the stops in place were not in the best shape but I figured I would replace them while the counter tops are off and I had room to work. I bought the stops yesterday and had an hour or so betwqeen chores so I went to the basement and shut off the lines to one sink.Pretty tough.The in-line shut-offs were corroded and the hot just shattered.I managed to close the valves but,sure enough,they did nothing.
End of saga. I am going to use the existing stops under the sinks and sometime in the future I will replace the shut-off valves downstairs.
Sure burns my bacon that one job leads to another...to another...to another.
I like to delay stuff like that for warmer days.
Thanks for all your advice.
Alan
 

CarlH

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Some people just slather it on everything, like it's going outta style.

That would be the plumber that was used when my house was built. All of the fittings had pipe dope all over them. This would be compression fittings, ballcock fittings, shower heads, etc. The only places where it was used that bothers me is the shower heads and toilet shut off valves. Those are visible and look cruddy with pipe dope all over them. And this just reminded me that they stripped the head a bit on the decorative (chrome plated) screws on things like the bathtub overflow covers. How tight does it need to be? grumble. At least none of it has leaked.
 

Kingsotall

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Not all that tight. Something you get a feel for. Definitely not wrenching down on it. They most likely cross threaded the screw. I am all in favor of going willy nilly with the dope, (on fittings that would benefit from them) but what I learned early on is that you carry a rag with you and wipe up all the access. Does not take that much longer.
 
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