The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Grooved pipe joints

31 Mar.,2025

 

Pipe Fittings: A Guide to Pipe Nipples and Sizes

Pipe fittings are a crucial component of plumbing and industrial systems, connecting, redirecting, and changing the flow of liquids and gases. Pipe nipples are one of the most important forms of pipe fittings for making strong, leak-proof connections. In this post, we will look at different pipe nipple sizes, provide information on pipe fittings wholesale, and explain how the nipple size chart can help you choose the proper fittings for your purposes.

Check now

What Are Pipe Nipples?

A pipe nipple is a short length of pipe with threads on both ends, which is commonly used to join two other pipe fittings or appliances. They are widely used in plumbing, gas, and fluid systems due to their ease of installation and longevity.

Common Pipe Nipple Sizes

Pipe nipples come in a variety of sizes to suit different applications. These sizes are determined by the diameter of the pipe, which is often referred to as the Nominal Pipe Size (NPS). Here are some common pipe nipple sizes you’ll encounter in the market:

  • 1/8 inch
  • 1/4 inch
  • 1/2 inch
  • 3/4 inch
  • 1 inch
  • 2 inches
  • 3 inches
  • 4 inches

How to Choose the Right Pipe Nipple Size

Selecting the correct nipple size is essential for ensuring a secure and leak-free connection. You can determine the ideal size based on the type of pipe and the pressure requirements of your system. Refer to the nipple size chart to match the size of your pipe with the appropriate fittings.

Pipe Fittings Wholesale: Affordable and Convenient

When purchasing pipe nipples, buying in bulk through pipe fittings wholesale offers a cost-effective solution for contractors, plumbers, and businesses. Wholesale suppliers often offer competitive prices on a wide range of fittings, including different pipe nipple sizes and materials. This makes it easier to source the fittings needed for large projects without compromising on quality.

Types of Pipe Nipples and Materials

Pipe nipples come in a variety of materials, each suited for specific applications:

  • Steel Pipe Nipples: Durable and versatile, ideal for industrial applications.
  • Brass Pipe Nipples: Resistant to corrosion, commonly used in water and gas systems.
  • PVC Pipe Nipples: Lightweight and affordable, suitable for plumbing and irrigation systems.
  • Stainless Steel Pipe Nipples: Known for their resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, ideal for food processing and high-pressure applications.

Why Pipe Nipples Are Important

Pipe nipples are a vital component in any piping system. Their primary benefits include:

  • Flexibility: They can connect pipes of different sizes and types.
  • Durability: Made to withstand high pressure and temperature conditions.
  • Cost-effective: Simple to install and maintain, reducing overall system costs.

Pipe Nipple Video Guide

For a more visual understanding of pipe nipples, including their different sizes and installation tips, check out this informative Facebook video on pipe nipples. Watch the video to learn how pipe nipples can improve your plumbing and industrial systems.

Pipe Nipple Facebook Video

Choosing the Right Fitting - Buying Guides DirectIndustry

To choose the most suitable fitting for your application, you need to consider the type of connection, the environment, the nature of the fluid and its characteristics, and the materials compatible with your application.

  • Connection type: Quick-connect, permanent, or removable. You need to check accessibility, both for assembly and maintenance purposes and determine the shape of the fitting, e.g. straight, T-shaped, or angled.
  • Environment: You must take into account the ambient temperature, especially extreme temperature changes, risk of frost or UV exposure, rain or humidity, possible splashing water or mud, the level of protection required if the fitting is used in a hazardous area, possible impacts, vibrations, etc.
  • Fluid type: You need to choose the right fitting for the fluid (compressed air, air, water, oil, etc.), its temperature, pressure, and required flow rate (which depends on the nominal diameter [DN] of the pipe).
  • You may need to check that the connection complies with any standards to which your installation may be subject.
  • Material: The material of the fitting (stainless steel, brass, plastic, etc.) and of the sealing system (nitrile [NBR], fluorine rubber [FKM], ethylene rubber [EPDM], etc.) must be compatible with the material of the pipe that it is being connected to.

Quick couplings today are highly reliable products. This type of fitting is recommended if you plan on disassembling it regularly. Quick couplings do not require tools once each part is attached to its tube. When choosing your quick coupling, it’s important to check how the two parts of the coupling will connect to the pipes or ducts: by screwing, crimping, or interlocking.

Link to CNG

This type of fitting is rather expensive. If you don’t plan on regular dismantling, it may make more sense to choose a screw-in fitting.

Screw-in fittings are good for when you’re planning one-off operations that may require them to be dismantled.

As a general rule, screw-in fittings are designed to be handled with a wrench, but some models are designed to be screwed in by hand. Most screwed fittings have built-in seals.

You can choose a weld-on or crimp fitting when the fitting will be used in a permanent installation such as a water supply circuit. These fittings are designed for use with brass or copper pipes.

Weld-on and crimp fittings are the most economical, as they do not require sealing systems or mechanical systems. However, their installation requires a certain amount of know-how to ensure that they hold up well over time.

The material of the fitting must be compatible with that of the pipe on which it is to be mounted and with the fluid present in the circuit.

Empty Compressed Air Room Temperature Water Steam Food Liquid Lubricants Inert Liquid or Gas Corrosive Liquid or Gas Steel x x x x Stainless Steel x x x x x x Aluminum x x x Polymer x x x x Polycarbonate x x x Brass / Copper x x Nickel-plated Brass x x x x

When using a threaded fitting, it is essential to ensure that it is compatible with the one already installed in the circuit.

First of all, it is necessary to check the thread direction: Standard threads have a right-hand thread and are screwed in a clockwise direction, but there are also threads with a left-hand thread, for example for gas cylinders or when there may be a need to unscrew a standard thread.

Finally, it is important to know the standard used, for example:

  • ISO metric thread: This is the most common type of thread. These are sealed with a ring seal at the bottom of the thread. Cylindrical threading and tapping are identified by the letter M followed by the nominal diameter in millimeters and the pitch indicated in millimeters (e.g. M8x1). For gas connections, a cylindrical thread is indicated by the letter G, and the tapered thread by the letter J.
  • American UN thread: This is a cylindrical thread whose dimensions are given in inches and the number of threads per inch. It is identified by the letters UNC for unified coarse pitch and UNF for unified fine pitch threads.
  • NPT American thread: This is a tapered thread that seals with a jointing compound such as Teflon. NPTF threads are similar but do not require a jointing compound to be added.
  • BSP thread: This is a specific thread for gas. It can be cylindrical (BSPP), in which case it is sealed with an annular seal at the bottom of the thread, or conical (BSPT), in which case it is sealed with a jointing compound in the thread area (e.g. Teflon).

It is important to choose a fitting shape that is adapted to the circuit where it will be installed. For example, there are:

The company is the world’s best Grooved pipe joints supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

  • Straight fittings for seamless connections.
  • T-fittings for connections that branch.
  • Elbow fittings are used to connect pipes that join at an angle.
  • Reduction fittings are used to connect two pipes of different diameters. This type of fitting allows you to reduce the fluid flow rate.
  • Orientable fitting or swivel fittings are used for connections made at specific angles.