Source for 4 1/2" pipe or nipple

Rich Jones

We are working on a late 1800 steam system that has some rotted out return piping. Does anyone know of a source for 4 1/2" black steel pipe or nipples. 1 nipple would work to thread into a 7" x 4 1/2" x 3 tee and we could weld on whatever we need from there.

mattmia2

Could always turn an adapter on a lathe.

STEVEusaPA

Supply house.com has plenty of pipe. Anything with 7" may be a problem.

Intplm.

Black steel nipples at odd numbers 7" ? Not sure what you are looking for.
Am I mistaken, or are you looking for a Black nipple that is 4 inch I.D. ? I believe that you have measured the O.D. at 4-1/2 inches.
This is not the common way to ask for a nipple or fitting.

So....are you looking for a 4 inch by ______ ? black nipple at some undetermined length?

Rich Jones

I am looking for a 4 1/2 ID black iron nipple of any length threaded on one end. The OD of the pipe is 5". Supplyhouse.com shows nothing in 4 1/2 ID.

Intplm.

OHBOY. Thats a tough one.
If you can. It might be possible to use a victaulic product. They have some high temp items that might work.

Matt_67

Maybe get a piece of 5” OD steel tubing and thread it with a geared threader?

Pumpguy

As @mattmia2 suggested, if worse comes to worse, you should be able to have a machine shop make one up for you.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Rich Jones I think you going to be out of luck.

If it's accessable to weld you might try a 8 X 3 X 5" weld tee.

The 8 would slide over the 7" and weld that, 3" fittings are available and a 5" nipple coming out of the branch would slip over the 4 1/2 to weld that........a lot of work though. I have seen 7" pipe and 3 1/2" pipe on old jobs but never 4 1/2" but I don't doubt it existed. I have bought 3 1/2 in the past. I even checked under structural pipe on the internet because they have odd sizes but no luck with 4 1/2"

Matt_67

5” OD x .25” wall structural tube is available. Metals Depot sells it online in short lengths.

ScottSecor

With 3.5 inch steel pipe we weld on 3 inch or 4 inch pipe. Not sure we've ever had to deal with 4.5 inch pipe, but I would think 4 inch or 5 inch could be welded onto to it. My guess is that 3.5 and 4.5 inch pipe has not been produced for at least forty years.

retiredguy

3.5" sch 40 pipe may still be available at an old pipe supply shop but I never ran into 7" pipe. A company in Pittsburgh, Pa. may be someone to call. They have been in business for generations and can thread piping up to 8" and maybe larger. The company is B M Kramer 412-481-3000. If you are looking for a size of piping or fitting that is no longer available I would find the next size larger or smaller and make that work. Numerous times when the company I worked for found odd piping we would make what we needed and adapt to what was there. A good welder was always present and could weld what we needed.

jerryb46

Don't know where you are, but might try OSWALD SUPPLY,they were in THE BRONX,N.Y. at one time they had stuff that nobody else had.Good Luck.