Any good way to trim black pipe 1/4\" ?

Vermonter

Vermonter

Any good way to trim black pipe 1/4\" ?

I've been replacing all the steam supply valves in my house. The old ones were leaking and destryoing the hardwood floors.

Unfortunately the old valves are just a hair taller than the new ones. More unfortunately a Dead Man did a wonderful job fitting a 90 degree elbow just below the surface of the floor below one of the radiators. Therefore the 3 1/2" nipple from my plumbing supply is a hair too short and the 4" nipple is a hair too long and I don't have enough play in the riser to compensate. I'd also rather not put the whole radiator up on blocks.

Is there a good way to trim a 4" piece of 1 1/4" black pipe a little bit smaller without destroying the thread and without spending an hour back and forth to Home Depot to use their threading machine?

Thanks!

tim smith

trimming nipple

You could probably get away with trimming 1/8" off either end of nipple to get the length you need. Normall the threads would be long enough and then file the cut end to get a clean starter thread. Good luck, Tim

Steven Gronski

Nipple trimming

> You could probably get away with trimming 1/8"

> off either end of nipple to get the length you

> need. Normall the threads would be long enough

> and then file the cut end to get a clean starter

> thread. Good luck, Tim





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Vermonter

Tried that...

Tried that without much luck. Maybe I just need a little practice. There isn't a "thread dresser" or some such tool is there that would make it a little more foolproof?

Steven Gronski

Nipple trimming

I have had to trim nipples in the past, and if you have access to a grinding wheel, or a hand held grinder, that works the best. It not only keeps a smooth level surface, it also leaves you with a starter thread. Just keep the nipple totally flush on the surface when grinding.

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McKern

Not all nipples are created equal...

I'd go through the bin and start measuring measure them. They often vary in length. I've seen 3.5" nipples that only measure 3 and an eighth.

Chris_82

1/4 inch is always a pain,...

Run the die a little longer than you normally would, like 15 to 18 threads, although not all threading devices will let you do that, some times for those units they can be readjusted. Can the hangers be lowered any?

bob young

use the 3 1/2 " nipple with quick wick & dope.

Dave_4

I'm not understanding

why can't you raise the radiators (with wooden checkers)? Why do you need to cut the nipple? Sorry, I just can't picture the problem.

MikeL_2

I agree with Uni R

I've been seen in the supply house with rows and rows of nipples lined up on the counter looking for the "shortest" 4" nipple or the "longest" 3 1/2" nipple.................

Vermonter

Guess I'm a perfectionist...

Guess I'm a perfectionist, none of the radiators in the house have anything under the feet near the valve. They've all got a little step on the other side now that I've pitched them correctly

Vermonter

I think you and I would get along [nt]

ML_3

Where are you in VT? If you are in the southern part of the state I would be willing to loan you a die to run the threads a little deeper.

ML

bob young

big project not

make your own nipple with two male adapters and a piece of "k" copper. or use the 3 1/2 with wick & get it done with. you are making a big project out of a zero job. a real plumber could do that job in about three minutes.

Techman

How good?

With a vise ,a sawzall ,a file , and a pipe die, "you can do it!". With 1/8" off of each end you may not nave to rethread.

Vermonter

Copper mixed with cast iron?

A real plumber would put a piece of copper pipe in my steam system?

No offense but from everything I've heard I'd be looking for a new plumber.

Vermonter

There isn't a home deopt inside 20 miles that has a pipe threader that's working, I'll pick one up next time I'm at the Plumbing Supply.

Thanks everyone for all the great tips!

Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_1

we cut the rad legs

No doubt this'll get me some flack, but our solution is to cut off a wee portion of the very bottom of the radiator's legs with a sawzall using a fine-tooth metal blade. I've never yet found the bottom portion of those legs to be hollow and we've cut off a good deal more than 1/8" without any problems. The one issue you will have, on the other hand, is a sharper edge that can really scratch the heck out of the floor. Thin felt pads can be cut to fit under the legs without showing.

ML_3

I don't think your going to find a 1 1/4 pipe threader in a Home Depot and they are pretty expensive at a supply house. I would guess a die and handle would set you back $200 or so. I am in Bennington if your interested in a loaner e-mail me at so.vt@hotmail.com

ML

bob_50

Why not go to

your local plumber's shop (look up PLUMBER in yellow pages) and ask him to cut you a 3 and 3/4" nipple?

Wayne Heid

I'd use a port-a-band to cut the nipple

and a nipple chuck to hold the nipple while recutting the threads in my pipe machine.

http://ridgid.com/Tools/Nipple-Chuck-Kit

Dave_4

probably not quality, but

I bought 1/2 - 1 1/4 threader online for around $50. The brandname was GRIP. I've threaded several 1" pipes with it and it seems to work. It may not last, but at $50, it's cheaper than calling a plumber to my place and about the same price as renting a threader.

However, your situation is slightly different. I had to thread pipes in-situ where as you can bring a pipe to the plumber.