fire extinguisher leaking

Show us your pneumatic spud gun! Discuss pneumatic (compressed gas) powered potato guns and related accessories. Valve types, actuation, pipe, materials, fittings, compressors, safety, gas choices, and more.
User avatar
hi
Staff Sergeant 2
Staff Sergeant 2
Posts: 1619
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:28 pm

Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:37 pm

My dad was nice enough to let me have our old FE. I emptied it out and took the top off and noticed that it had 3/4 inch threads on it. I just happened to have a 3/4 nipple and a ball valve, pressure gauge and a threaded schrader valve and a few other fitting, screwed them together and quickly had an air chamber. Everything worked great until it started leaking (which was instantly
) It leaks where the FE and nipple meet. I have tried everything I can think of. I have gone around it about 10 times, literally 10 times, with Teflon tape and tightened it with a pipe wrench as tight as i can and it still leaks!!!! any other suggestions?
User avatar
A-98
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 921
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:41 pm
Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:48 pm

well, if you want to get it off...i dont know. but if your never going to remove it, use JB weld. its never leaked on me.

they also have teflon paste, which might work.
There are rules, and then there are hundred dollar bills.
User avatar
noname
First Sergeant 4
First Sergeant 4
Posts: 2698
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:19 pm
Location: Bay Area, CA

Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:51 pm

Dump a bunch of silicone sealant on the male threads and then screw it in. Wait for the whole cure time, then test it. It should be perfect. If it does leak (highly unlikely), you can always wrench it off with a vice and pliers.
allthingsgo2
Private
Private
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:14 am

Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:51 pm

Take it to a welding shop and have them put a nipple on it for you.
Im not sure i trust the jb weld
User avatar
MrCrowley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10078
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Been thanked: 3 times

Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:51 pm

JB Weld = Best thing since sliced bread.

3/4" threads thats interesting....mine had weird threads about 5/8" threads....I had to get <A HREF="http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... 2">Mine</a> welded.
User avatar
A-98
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 921
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:41 pm
Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:53 pm

well, if its already threaded with 3/4 then teh jb weld will do nothing but strengthen the bond.

JB weld = sliced bread+canned meat
There are rules, and then there are hundred dollar bills.
User avatar
hi
Staff Sergeant 2
Staff Sergeant 2
Posts: 1619
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:28 pm

Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:14 am

If i use the jb weld, do i do it with or without the Teflon tape? I have jb weld and ill try it, but would still like other suggestions before i glue it.
User avatar
A-98
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 921
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:41 pm
Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:22 am

i find that it doesnt work as well with teflon tape.
There are rules, and then there are hundred dollar bills.
User avatar
MrCrowley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10078
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Been thanked: 3 times

Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:25 am

Use teflon and once its screwed into the FE put JB over the gap between the fitting and the FE...
User avatar
rna_duelers
Staff Sergeant 3
Staff Sergeant 3
Posts: 1739
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:07 am
Location: G-land Australia

Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:55 am

Use about 20 wraps of teflon tape,and a little grease.Seems to work for me.
Image
Matheusilla
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 140
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:43 pm

Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:28 am

The threads in a fire extinguisher have a larger pitch than pipe threads. Use the jb weld (or "steel" epoxy).
iknowmy3tables
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
United States of America
Posts: 1596
Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:57 pm
Location: maryland
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:27 am

yeah one of the problems is probebly that the threads aren't really 3/4" sort of like how garden isn't 3/4"npt but you can actully use npt with garden hose if you just use lots of teflon or sealent
User avatar
spudthug
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 936
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: johnsonburg, Pa USA
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:09 pm

ok well first of all u most likely ruined ur fire extinguisher by putting that 3/4 in...it is most definately not 3/4 the 3/4 may fit but trust me it isnt 3/4....second fes are machine threaded and will leak no matter what...pipe thread is 14 threads per inch the fe machine thread is about 22...u do the math the only way to get it stop leaking is to weld/silver solder it...i silver soldered mine because it isnt made for fittings....
4" piston valved cannon-half done..( i spilt my cement...)

Hybrid- 75% done. need to build propane holder and drill/tap sparkplug hole..
User avatar
lukemc
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 565
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:48 am
Location: NY

Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:38 pm

is silver solder the same as soldering copper pipe?
"Those who are different change the world. Those who are the same keep it that way"
User avatar
Fnord
First Sergeant 2
First Sergeant 2
Posts: 2239
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:20 pm
Location: Pripyat
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:22 pm

I had the same problem with some black iron pipe I bought for making a hybrid over the summer. I did some pressure testing and it would leak no matter how much teflon tape I put on it. Then it was like 10:00 at night, and I just though what the hell, and used electrical tape instead of teflon. It never leaked again, even when I pressurized it passed 160 psi.
Post Reply