Old hand on my first turnaround told me to torque in three passes and I ignored him for two jobs
First turnaround in Borger, guy named Walt with 30 years in told me never torque a flange in one shot. Three passes minimum, star pattern. I figured it was slow and did it my way on the next two jobs. Had a leak on a steam line at startup and had to redo 14 bolts at 11 pm. Walt was right. Now I do the passes and the gasket holds. Any of you got a shortcut that actually works or is it just the long way every time?