Plumbing question, nipple lengths

[Richard]

Installing new shower, tile is done and now I've got to take the 6" place holder pipes out that were there so the tile guy would work around them and replace them with the proper length.

What is the best way of measuring the best length I need?

One method I've done is mark the installed pipes so I have the length, as measured from the (installed) threads in the wall, to the wall face, leaving me ostensibly, with just the 1/2" or so exterior to the wall to worry about.

I also have measured to the face of the Ell (I think it's called inside the wall with the female threads?)

Anyway, I've measured to the FACE of the "el" in the wall and to the exterior of the tile. Let's just say this measurement is 2 3/8 inches however, this does NOT account for the thread length inside the wall fitting, nor the thread length into the spray heads.

In years past, I've always bought several lengths and simply done trial & error.

Now I have 4 I need to buy and each one is a fraction different than another (one is 1/4" different on another wall) and I don't really want to buy 30 of these things to try to get the best length.

I guess I'm asking, how much should I add for the threaded portions? I'd love to think that 1/2" pipe would thread in about 1/2" and 3/4" pipe would thread in about 3/4" but I don't know if that makes sense to the manufacturers.

 

[kenmac]

most store bought nipples are in even lenghts. Ie, 2, 4 , 6, etc. I don't know of any nipples ( that you buy) that come in 2 1/4, 2 1/2 etc, When I run in to this I have to make my own

 

[dbdartman]

Installing new shower, tile is done and now I've got to take the 6" place holder pipes out that were there so the tile guy would work around them and replace them with the proper length.

What is the best way of measuring the best length I need?

One method I've done is mark the installed pipes so I have the length, as measured from the (installed) threads in the wall, to the wall face, leaving me ostensibly, with just the 1/2" or so exterior to the wall to worry about.

I also have measured to the face of the Ell (I think it's called inside the wall with the female threads?)

Anyway, I've measured to the FACE of the "el" in the wall and to the exterior of the tile. Let's just say this measurement is 2 3/8 inches however, this does NOT account for the thread length inside the wall fitting, nor the thread length into the spray heads.

In years past, I've always bought several lengths and simply done trial & error.

Now I have 4 I need to buy and each one is a fraction different than another (one is 1/4" different on another wall) and I don't really want to buy 30 of these things to try to get the best length.

I guess I'm asking, how much should I add for the threaded portions? I'd love to think that 1/2" pipe would thread in about 1/2" and 3/4" pipe would thread in about 3/4" but I don't know if that makes sense to the manufacturers.

Forget doing all the math. Just put your temporary nipples back in after the area is tiled, & mark it at the wall. If you need more sticking out, add that length to the length to your mark.

Yes, as a rule of thumb, 1/2" pipe will go around 1/2" into a fitting, same with 3/4" pipe.