I really appreciate all of the replies. I thought about using the tape but being a plumber I remember an old timer telling me that with the added thickness of the tape he stretched the threads on a valve one time. Now I know it was a brass valve and this is stainless but I just tend to stay away from it. I will say sabotloader you're definately correct on the grease hardening. I clean my threads regularly an have been using the copper based never seize rather than the silver. I believe it's rated for a higher temperature not that it matters but it seems not to harden as much.