As an expert sommelier and brewer, I have dealt with numerous types of fittings in my line of work, including compression fittings. When it comes to disconnecting and reconnecting a compression fitting, the process can vary depending on the specific situation.
If you are simply removing the fitting body from the sleeve and planning to put it back together with the same tubing, you can usually reuse the sleeve. In this case, you would need to unscrew the fitting body from the sleeve, detach the tubing, and then reattach the tubing to the fitting body once you are ready to reconnect. It is important to ensure that the tubing is securely fastened to the fitting body to prevent any leaks.
However, if you are looking to disconnect the tubing from the compression fitting completely, without any intention of reconnecting it to another compression fitting, you will need to cut off the sleeve. This can be done by using a sharp blade or tubing cutter to carefully slice through the sleeve along the length of the tubing. Once the sleeve is cut, you will be able to separate the tubing from the compression fitting.
It is worth mentioning that compression fittings are designed to create a tight seal between the tubing and the fitting body, using the compression of the sleeve against the tubing. This means that once the sleeve is removed or cut, it may not provide the same level of secure connection if you attempt to reuse it. It is generally recommended to use a new sleeve when reconnecting the tubing to a compression fitting, especially if it is being connected to a different angle-stop configuration.
In my personal experience, I have found that reusing a sleeve without cutting it can sometimes lead to leaks or a less secure connection. It is always better to err on the side of caution and use a new sleeve if you are unsure about the integrity of the old one or if you are connecting the tubing to a different fitting configuration.
To summarize, the ability to disconnect and reconnect a compression fitting depends on whether you plan to reuse the same tubing with the same or different fitting configuration. If you are reusing the same tubing with the same fitting, you can usually reuse the sleeve. However, if you are disconnecting the tubing completely or connecting it to a different fitting, it is advisable to cut off the sleeve and use a new one for the reconnection process.