I would normally use thick PTFE tape, but I'm not happy with the feel.
I used 150-200mm of tape and I can keep turning the tail onto the radiator and if anything gets looser as I keep turning. Yes I have wrapped in the right direction!
Is there any advantage to using thin tape, or is there a preferred or recommended sealant which hardens to form a seal. Where some modest torque needs to be applied to remove the tail (in the unlikely event it need to be removed).
It needs to seal on the threads before bottoming out. Screw the tail in without any tape and see how far it goes in. Then take it out and wrap it with tape. It needs to go tight before it goes in as far as it does without tape. I always use tape designed for use for gas pipes. It's thicker and stronger than the standard stuff.
The tails don't bottom out, this is an example of the type I have:
You need *lots* of tape on those. Also there is a trick to winding it so that it get thicker as you move further up the thread. So you probably want 10 at the start then more as you move up the thread. I normally wind the tape "side on" for the last few turns so that it folds and makes narrower double layers for the last bit.
There are liquid PTFE type products, and also Fernox LS-X which sets. So people favour PTFE cord or string since you can build up thicker layers more easily, and its easier to make a taper thread lock up.
I actually tried that, but after a certain thickness it just stayed put and didn't wind in with the fitting.
After your suggestion I came up with:
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