Special Brass nipple

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JeffreyWisc

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I need a 2.25 inch long 1/2 brass nipple for a pot filler behind a range to sit flush. The plumber roughed it out trying to guess the finish backsplash tile depth, he missed it which I total understand.

Is this common that a plumber can make one or can I buy one. Just for sake of ease, I am doing the final install of the pot filler which is simple but a 2 inch nipple isn't long enough and a 2.5 is too long.

Thanks folks!
 
Bird Doo Head said:
Maybe saw 1/8" off each end of the 2-1/2" nipple.
Click to expand...
Another good idea. Do you think it would still thread? I really don't want to solder one that I have to make sure doesn't leak as it would be i side the wall and above a really expensive range which is part of my wife's dream kitchen. Scares me to know that I soldered it!
 
JeffreyWisc said:
Another good idea. Do you think it would still thread? I really don't want to solder one that I have to make sure doesn't leak as it would be i side the wall and above a really expensive range which is part of my wife's dream kitchen. Scares me to know that I soldered it!
Click to expand...
Don’t do that.
 
JeffreyWisc said:
due to the taper?
Click to expand...
Yes, and tolerances. See the info below.

1701458485661.png

The design L1 for a 1/2" pipe is 0.32 inches which works out to be 4.48 threads. If you cut off 1/8" of the male thread, L1 for a perfect set of fittings becomes 0.195 which works out to be 2.73 threads. But with the tolerances of 1 full turn on both the male and female threads, one could end up with 0.73 threads of engagement. Granted, brass fitting are much cleaner than steel pipe, but trimming threads from a male fitting is quite problematic.

My wife uses her pot filler a LOT, and the threaded pipe is the primary support for the pot filler. She wouldn't like it if she pulled the pot filler out from the wall and the nipple came loose.
 
Last edited:
MicEd69 said:
Yes, and tolerances. See the info below.

View attachment 43231

The design L1 for a 1/2" pipe is 0.32 inches which works out to be 4.48 threads. If you cut off 1/8" of the male thread, L1 for a perfect set of fittings becomes 0.195 which works out to be 2.73 threads. But with the tolerances of 1 full turn on both the male and female threads, one could end up with 0.73 threads of engagement. Granted, brass fitting are much cleaner than steel pipe, but trimming threads from a male fitting is quite problematic.

My wife uses her pot filler a LOT, and the threaded pipe is the primary support for the pot filler. She wouldn't like it if she pulled the pot filler out from the wall and the nipple came loose.
Click to expand...
Given that I am unsure of my ability y
MicEd69 said:
Yes, and tolerances. See the info below.

View attachment 43231

The design L1 for a 1/2" pipe is 0.32 inches which works out to be 4.48 threads. If you cut off 1/8" of the male thread, L1 for a perfect set of fittings becomes 0.195 which works out to be 2.73 threads. But with the tolerances of 1 full turn on both the male and female threads, one could end up with 0.73 threads of engagement. Granted, brass fitting are much cleaner than steel pipe, but trimming threads from a male fitting is quite problematic.

My wife uses her pot filler a LOT, and the threaded pipe is the primary support for the pot filler. She wouldn't like it if she pulled the pot filler out from the wall and the nipple came loose.
Click to expand...
Got it, makes sense. For sure the threaded pipe seems to carry the weight.

I have some time, and I did just find a company that can make a custom size threaded brass nipple, so I suppose I will check with them to see how much they want for one.
 
MicEd69 said:
Yes, and tolerances. See the info below.

View attachment 43231

The design L1 for a 1/2" pipe is 0.32 inches which works out to be 4.48 threads. If you cut off 1/8" of the male thread, L1 for a perfect set of fittings becomes 0.195 which works out to be 2.73 threads. But with the tolerances of 1 full turn on both the male and female threads, one could end up with 0.73 threads of engagement. Granted, brass fitting are much cleaner than steel pipe, but trimming threads from a male fitting is quite problematic.

My wife uses her pot filler a LOT, and the threaded pipe is the primary support for the pot filler. She wouldn't like it if she pulled the pot filler out from the wall and the nipple came loose.
Click to expand...
I've done it successfully many, many times. (Lots of them on refrigerant & oil carrying systems.) Actually, one of the hand showers & the workshop sink in my house right now have trimmed nipples.

At 1/8" of removal, all that is being removed is part of the reduced diameter part (linear taper) of the threaded portion.

Or, if you absolutely don't want to solder, remove 1/4 from one end & re-thread to suit. (Many hardware stores will re-thread it as a courtesy if you buy the nipple from them.)

Or hire the soldering out.

Your Call: Try if you like don't if you don't like.
 
Bird Doo Head said:
At 1/8" of removal, all that is being removed is part of the reduced diameter part (linear taper) of the threaded portion.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is called the sealing threads of the nipple. Using the table above, cutting 1/8" off of a 1/2" nipple reduces the sealing threads by 39%. Not a good idea.

But with an internal pipe wrench and a die, one could cut another 1/4" of threads on the 1/4" one cut off the 2 1/2" nipple.
 
MicEd69 said:
Yes, that is called the sealing threads of the nipple. Using the table above, cutting 1/8" off of a 1/2" nipple reduces the sealing threads by 39%. Not a good idea.

But with an internal pipe wrench and a die, one could cut another 1/4" of threads on the 1/4" one cut off the 2 1/2" nipple.
Click to expand...
Jeffery, the plumbers here said cutting is a bad idea, so follow one of their plans instead. Why add risk? What's worked for me may not work for others.
Paul
 
Bird Doo Head said:
Jeffery, the plumbers here said cutting is a bad idea, so follow one of their plans instead. Why add risk? What's worked for me may not work for others.
Paul
Click to expand...
Yep I agree, if this was in a shop or even in a shower, it wouldn’t freak me out as much as having it over such a nice new range!
 
Might it be possible to have one made at the correct length? As I understand it back in the day a lot of the galvanized pipe had the threads cut on site. Somebody local might be able to do it, all they need is the proper die and handle (and of course a piece of brass pipe cut to length). If not, there are definitely sites on the web that can make one and send it to you:

https://custommold.com/pipe-nipples.html
or

https://mopipe.com/pipe-nipples/custom-work-pipe-nipples/
Probably it will cost more than making up the hybrid part yourself, but if the OP isn't comfortable soldering, it would be another option.
 
JeffreyWisc said:
Yep I agree, if this was in a shop or even in a shower, it wouldn’t freak me out as much as having it over such a nice new range!
Click to expand...
Apparently, you've got more common sense than I have. One end hidden in the wall is, indeed, kind of scary.

If you can't find an old-timey Mom-And-Pop hardware to thread one for you, perhaps there is a local plumbing shop that will thread one or make a double male adapter like two Wax Hack mentioned.

But...
Making a double male adapter length would be a fun project. Buy a short piece of tubing and a couple of whatever the cheapest fitting is for practicing. After a couple of go-arounds, you'll make beautiful joints and will have gained a new skill to keep for life!

Paul
 
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