People often refer to “pipe dope” when talking about sealing threads of pipe fittings, but when I go to Home Depot or Lowes or whatever, I’ve never seen anything on the shelf labeled “Pipe Dope”. This seems to be an old-fashioned word that people speak and understand, but it’s not the correct, technical product name.
If I have been told that for a certain joint, pipe dope is a better choice than Teflon tape, what do I need to pick up at the hardware store? I don’t particularly need a certain brand recommendation, but an example or picture of a product currently stocked at a major, national retailer would be great as an example. If the word “dope” isn’t used, what other terms do I look for to find “pipe dope”?
Pipe dope is a general term used to describe any lubricant, sealant, or adhesive designed to aid in making pipe joints leak proof. It can be used to describe dopes in various forms, including pastes, tapes, putties, etc.
Within the plumbing trade, the term “pipe dope” is commonly used to describe paste dopes exclusively.
Using a general term such as “dope”, prevents specific brand names from being used to represent an entire class of products.