CountryBumkin
Active Member
Regarding not being able to buy the copper fittings - it's hard to believe your "plumbing shop" doesn't have these common fittings (every HD and Lowes has them). Anyways...
As far as leaking goes, its not as likely/easy to have leak on a tub fill or shower head since these pipes don't have full water pressure on them (one end of the pipe is always open).
Story of a DIYer: When I did my shower build, I ran into the same problem with my hand-held shower arm connection; a 2" was too short and 2-1/2 was too long (so I ordered a custom length 2-1/4 nipple) - ironically when I removed the old nipple to install the new 2-1/4 nipple, the 2-1/4 was now too short. The action of installing, tightening, and then removing the pipe nipples "enlarged" the female NPT threads in the drop elbow fitting some - so I ended up reinstalling the 2-1/2 which then fit perfectly.
As far as leaking goes, its not as likely/easy to have leak on a tub fill or shower head since these pipes don't have full water pressure on them (one end of the pipe is always open).
Story of a DIYer: When I did my shower build, I ran into the same problem with my hand-held shower arm connection; a 2" was too short and 2-1/2 was too long (so I ordered a custom length 2-1/4 nipple) - ironically when I removed the old nipple to install the new 2-1/4 nipple, the 2-1/4 was now too short. The action of installing, tightening, and then removing the pipe nipples "enlarged" the female NPT threads in the drop elbow fitting some - so I ended up reinstalling the 2-1/2 which then fit perfectly.