1/2” brass close nipple too long

[TAPlumbing]

Hey!

I’ve found similar threads but none that exactly match what I’m looking for. I need to attach a shower supply elbow to a female threaded fitting, but I didn’t leave enough room for the nipple. The smallest 1/2” npt brass close nipple I can find is 1-1/8” long. I need to be closer to 3/4” long.

Here’s what I tried so far:
- I called Trenton Pipe and MoPipe and they won’t sell a homeowner a custom close nipple. They only sell to wholesalers. That, and MoPipe said they can’t even manufacture a close nipple shorter than 1-1/8” long.

- I picked up a tap and die kit. I Cut about 1/8 inch off both sides of a 1-1/8” close nipple and tried to rethread. The problem was that the taper was gone and I could only get one or two threads into both the female fitting and the supple elbow. Maybe I should have tried to use the die further? Problem is I can’t hold the nipple without destroying the threads in a clamp.

Anyone have any sage advice for this fool? I really don’t want to take the tiles down.

 

[Jadziedzic]

Cut the 1/4" off one end of the nipple, screw the other end into some sort of sacrificial fitting, then use the tap on the free end? Maybe use a drop ear elbow screwed to a length of a 2x4 for the sacrificial fitting? Or if that interferes with the tap holder maybe a coupling and a second length of pipe? You'll probably need to use an inside pipe wrench to remove the newly-threaded nipple from the sacrificial fitting ...

 

[Sponsor]

 

[TAPlumbing]

Cut the 1/4" off one end of the nipple, screw the other end into some sort of sacrificial fitting, then use the tap on the free end? Maybe use a drop ear elbow screwed to a length of a 2x4 for the sacrificial fitting? Or if that interferes with the tap holder maybe a coupling and a second length of pipe? You'll probably need to use an inside pipe wrench to remove the newly-threaded nipple from the sacrificial fitting ...

Thank you! I’m going to try to rethread again and see if I can get it work using a sacrificial female fitting as a holder in a vice.

 

[wwhitney]

What does the "shower supply elbow" look like?

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Reach4]

Something like these.

 

[Jadnashua]

TO get a leak-proof connection, you need the nipple to be inserted a decent way into the fitting...I'm not sure if you can get a proper connection with only 3/8" into fittings on either end of a nipple only 3/4" long. That's probably why the company said their minimum length is 1-1/8". Threading the nipple in the design distance does two things...makes it mechanically secure, and gets the tapered threads a chance to create a proper seal. If you just cut some off of the ends of a nipple, you might get it to seal, but you wouldn't have enough threads engaged for the design strength.

 

[ReDTyDe]

I've run into a similar issue....I was looking for a 2 3/4" long fitting but didn't realize you can only get them in 1/2" increments.
If you look at the picture, does it look like I would have enough threads to work with this 2 1/2" long nipple?

 

[Terry]

I've run into a similar issue....I was looking for a 2 3/4" long fitting but didn't realize you can only get them in 1/2" increments.
If you look at the picture, does it look like I would have enough threads to work with this 2 1/2" long nipple?

You could remove the nipple from the wall, thread on your fitting and then take that measurement.

 

[Weekend Handyman]

Maybe a different shower head. Might not be ideal but better than taking down the tile. Alternatively, what is on the other side of the wall?

 

[Reach4]

That looks like steel. You don't want a steel nipple in that job.

You can get custom length, tho I don't find that a the moment. you can make your own using an NPT die.

Also, if the nipple is tad short, using more tape can fill in to tighten the gap.

 

[Breplum]

You need a Grohe shower wall ell (the ones that have adjustability. I haven't reviewed latest models) since they almost always have full depth adjustment that makes this a piece of cake.
There is no good way to do what you are trying to do. Don't feel bad. The design of simple/stupid shower wall ells is not your fault.

 

[ReDTyDe]

That looks like steel. You don't want a steel nipple in that job.

You can get custom length, tho I don't find that a the moment. you can make your own using an NPT die.

Also, if the nipple is tad short, using more tape can fill in to tighten the gap.

Thanks! Yes I was only using it for measurement purposes. Plan was to go brass.....?

 

[Reach4]

Brass yes. Adding more PTFE tape acts like making the nipple a tad longer.