Clutch bleeding trouble - leaky bleeder valve?

I installed my rebuilt clutch master and slave cylinders today, and had a heck of a time bleeding the system. I was ultimately successful using the traditional "assistant-presses-and-releases-pedal-while-I-work-bleeder-on-off" method. But I first unsuccessfully tried the reverse-bleed-with-big-syringe method and using my old Mityvac method (had no assistant available at the time). I think the problem was whenever I loosened the bleeder, it seemed to leak, i.e. when I was using the syringe, brake fluid would drip through the threads in proportion to the pressure applied, or when using the Mityvac, I would seem to be drawing in air through the threads rather than pulling fluid from the system. Is this typical and should I have been using some sort of sealer on the bleeder threads?

Soon I'll be doing the same for my completely rebuild brake system, and I'm less likely to have my son home from school....

Thx

Bob

The few times my clutch was bled, my mechanic used a pressure bleeder (eezibleed) - took more time to set up the pressure bleeder than to do the bleeding itself.

also make sure the bleeder is in the right hole. half of the cars I have seen have the bleeder in the wrong hole and complain about bleeding problems

Yes bleeder holes to the top.

I have been fighting this for 35 years.

My wife pitched a fit and pretty much made it clear she was not going to help again. Somehow bleeding always went sideways.

She did however buy me an Easi bleed and a Motive power bleeder.

It takes longer to clean the bleeder than to bleed the whole brake system.

Yes the threads on the bleeders leak when using a vacuum bleeder. I tossed mine in the dumpster in frustration.

Some people suggest putting grease or pipe dope on the threads. I think that is a questionable idea as a little of that crap in the brake fluid would be bad.