Need a little info - pipe tape - what does it look like?

[Democrat 4 Ever]

Doing a small shower head change in the bathroom. Need some pipe tape. Dug through a box of misc. & sundry of things - you know the box and think I've found the necessary pipe tape for the job. Except it doesn't look like I thought it would.

The roll of tape has no markings on it at all. Just plain thin white tape, waxy coating on outside with a sticky reverse side. For some reason I thought pipe tape was a thin, white felty/material-like substance that isn't sticky. Just stuff to wind around the pipe to aid in sealing before joining the two pipes.

I'm sure I've got pipe tape around here, just not for sure if I have found it or not. Anybody?

[AlCzervik]

1. maybe what you have is teflon tape?

[Democrat 4 Ever]

2. Is that a type of pipe tape? Hate to go buy another roll of stuff when

I need just a small bit.

[AlCzervik]

3. well usually teflon tape is wrapped around the thread end of the pipe

it's white and smooth on one side, almost like nylon and the other side is sticky. what kind of plumbing job are you doing and yes pipe tape i believe is different from teflon tape.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

4. Changing a shower head. Instructions said to use pipe tape.

If I remember correctly I thought pipe tape was a little stretchy, you wound it around the threads of the pipe before screwing on the other pipe.

The ex was a wonder on all things that needed repairing and fixing (much less a wonder on many, many other things). I use to hand him the tools, etc. so I have a faint knowledge of these things but not really a working data bank of info to reply upon. Guess I should invest in one of those home repair books.

[AlCzervik]

5. i'm pretty sure it's teflon tape you want, this is to connect the

shower head itself to the existing pipe--yes?

[Democrat 4 Ever]

6. Yes. n/t

[Why Syzygy]

7. No.

I'm not an expert. I love reading these threads though. But if what you descirbe is pipe tape, it is stretcy and not sticky on either side. Just stretchy white tape. But what you have might work just as well.

[jschurchin]

8. What you are describing is NOT teflon tape.

You probably should go to your local hardware store and invest a buck in a roll of teflon tape.

[jschurchin]

9. You should be looking for a plastic

spool with the tape wrapped around the spool. The spool will be either blue or possibly white. Have you ever seen the spool's for the white tape you use on cut's? The spool will look like that only it is made of plastic, not metal. Hope this helps.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. What you want for that application is ***teflon tape***

This stuff:


which is the same as this stuff ... just a different brand:


It is white tape, smooth on both sides. One side may *appear* to be sticky, but it really isn't, except to be capable of sticking to itself.

To apply it, you want to make sure it is somewhat strecthed as you apply it. You want it to get down into the threads. When winding it onto the threads, make **very** sure you wind it in the direction in which the shower head will screw on (clockwise). In this way, installing the new shower head will tend to further stretch/tighten the tape.

The stuff is cheap enough to buy a new roll if you're not sure what you have on hand.