Vaseline or PTFE?

[Brewbob]

I was wondering, when kegging my brew would using PTFE tape be better than vaseline for sealing purposes?

 

[winelight]

Never used PTFE tape but vaseline works fine.

 

[evanvine]

What were you thinking of using the ptfe tape on?

 

[Dave1970]

I'd say PTFE is for sealing threads, like on plumbing fittings. Vaseline is for when you have a washer, like on the lid or tap of a keg....so vaseline for kegging.

 

[Brewbob]

I was thinking around the thread of the tap mainly. So its not the thread I'm trying to seal, its the washer?

 

[wezil]

Hi I think it depends how good a fit the washer is over the thread. The vaseline goes on the inside of the washer against the bulkhead and the ptfe tape is wound round the thread of the tap (I think it's usually wound from the front of the fitting to the bulkhead at the back.

 

[Dave1970]

I was thinking around the thread of the tap mainly. So its not the thread I'm trying to seal, its the washer?

Yes. The washer goes on the outside of the keg, so the seal is between washer/keg on one side of washer and washer/tap on the other...I don't think the tap thread comes into it

 

[alawlor66430]

Ptfe will work better I'd say

 

[Ian...]

PTFE is a good idea. I always get a little seepage from the tap on kegs and as the beer must be pressed along the thread to leak out of the washer, I'm pretty sure it would improve things. I suppose you could argue that it may introduce an infection, but I think it's fairly inert, and the alcohol content at that stage would deal with any minor bacterium. I'm going to give it a go anyway.