pre-soaking teflon packing
pre-soaking teflon packing
(OP)
when I was in Naval service, we used to pre-soak teflon packing for pre expansion before installation into stuffing box. And it appears that this is no longer a need or never has been. Is there a need to pre-soak teflon rope packing prior to installation to reduce burnout?





RE: pre-soaking teflon packing
Johnny Pellin
RE: pre-soaking teflon packing
RE: pre-soaking teflon packing
Your statements are powerful. But, they say nothing about the value of soaking. All you have said is that you have never tried it. And, it is implied that you have had good results. On the other hand, I have tried it both ways on our largest packed pumps. And, I believe that soaking the packing produces better results. The original post says nothing about the application. So, I should note that my experience is only relevant to the stuffing boxes of pumps in water service where the packing is lubricated with the pumped product. I cannot address any other applications.
Johnny Pellin
RE: pre-soaking teflon packing
RE: pre-soaking teflon packing
There is no doubt that a skilled and experienced person can install packing dry (or coated in grease) and get excellent results. It may involve a very careful packing technique. It may involve a period of operation and adjustment at various times after start-up. But, in my experience, these skills are harder and harder to come by. And spending the time to make multiple adjustments over time is harder and harder to justify. It may be that packing that was soaked before installation could be installed with slightly less skill and less adjustment during initial run and still achieve very good results. Perhaps it is saying that you could get about the same outcome, but get it faster and cheaper with a less skilled workforce. And, I include myself under that category of less skilled. I have personally packed our largest water pump with Teflon packing that had not been soaked and had the packing smoke on start-up. Installing packing is one of those things that is harder to do well than it first appears. And, by soaking the packing before installation, I have been more successful with less time and effort.
Johnny Pellin