Belatori Plumbers Hemp is a traditional, high-performance jointing fiber used to seal large-diameter threaded connections in plumbing and industrial piping. Often used in conjunction with a jointing compound (like Stag or Heldite), hemp expands when wet, creating an incredibly high-pressure, permanent seal that is superior to tape for heavy-duty metal applications.
Technical Specifications
- Material: 100% Natural Bast Fiber (Flax/Hemp).
- Weight: 100g or 200g (Standard trade-size rolls).
- Applications: Galvanized iron, brass, and steel threaded pipes.
- Temperature Resistance: Suitable for boiling water and steam applications (up to 130°C when used with correct paste).
- Chemical Resistance: Naturally resistant to rot when saturated with the correct sealing compound.
Key Performance Features
- Hydraulic Expansion: Unlike PTFE Thread Tape, which is inert, hemp fibers naturally swell when they come into contact with water. This expansion “plugs” any microscopic gaps in the threads, making it ideal for the high-pressure outputs of Pascali Pressure Pumps.
- Structural Reinforcement: The long, tough fibers provide mechanical strength to the joint. This makes it the preferred choice for heavy brass fittings like the Advanced Valve T&P Valve or large-scale irrigation manifolds where vibration might occur.
- Adjustability: A hemp-sealed joint can often be “backed off” slightly for alignment without breaking the seal. In contrast, a tape-sealed joint will almost always leak if unscrewed even a fraction of a turn.
- Gap Filling: Perfect for older, “pitted,” or poorly machined threads common in maintenance projects involving legacy galvanized piping.
- Cost-Effective: A single roll provides hundreds of seals, making it a staple for large-scale inventory in agricultural and hardware retail environments.
Professional Application Tips
- Thread Roughening: For smooth brass threads (like a Belatori Stop Tap), lightly “score” the threads with a hacksaw blade or a Kaufmann screwdriver. This gives the hemp something to “bite” into so it doesn’t slide off as you tighten.
- Clockwise Wrap: Pull a thin “whisker” of hemp from the bundle. Wrap it tightly into the threads in a clockwise direction (starting from the end of the pipe).
- The Paste Layer: After wrapping the hemp, smear a thin layer of plumbing jointing compound over the fibers. This acts as a lubricant during assembly and a preservative for the fibers over time.
- Avoid Over-Wrapping: Use just enough hemp to fill the depth of the threads. If the joint is too bulky, you risk cracking the female fitting when applying high torque with a pipe wrench.
- Final Cleanup: Once the joint is tightened with a Kaufmann shifting spanner, wipe away the excess paste and stray fibers for a professional, clean finish.
Common Use Cases
- Main Line Plumbing: Connecting heavy-duty galvanized pipes for borehole or municipal feeds.
- Geyser Installations: Sealing 20mm and 22mm brass bushings and safety valves.
- Agriculture: High-vibration pump manifolds and large-scale irrigation headers.
- Steam & Heating: Industrial boiler lines where high temperatures would melt standard plastic tapes.
Note: Never use hemp on plastic (uPVC/HDPE) threads. The expansion force of the wet hemp can easily split plastic female housings. Stick to PTFE Tape for plastic, and save the Belatori Hemp for your heavy metal-to-metal connections.
