Fully threaded galvanized steel nipple

A male/male fitting threaded along its entire length

This galvanized steel nipple is a short, hollow tubular fitting with an external thread along its entire length. It connects two female fittings of the same size, such as two elbows or two tees, with no central hexagon between the ends. It does not screw directly onto a male-threaded pipe.

The nipple becomes invisible when fully screwed into the two female fittings, provided their threads are deep enough to accommodate it completely. Its full-length thread creates a discreet joint in a pipe-and-fitting structure : a shelf, clothes rack, furniture leg or other decorative threaded assembly.

Sizes and dimensions

Choose the size to match the threads of the parts being joined. The designations 15×21, 20×27, 26×34 and 33×42 are conventional French plumbing size names. Inches indicate a nominal size: do not convert them directly to millimetres when choosing a fitting. Use the thread size of the parts being joined and the table below.

D: nominal outside diameter · T: wall thickness · L: overall length.

Nominal dimensions, subject to manufacturing tolerances. The thickness shown is that of the pipe wall. Overall length is not the gap added between the two fittings: part of the nipple enters each female thread. The final spacing depends on how far it is screwed in.

Specifications

• Material : galvanized steel
• Straight male/male fitting
• Full-length external thread, with no central hexagon
• Hollow body, unthreaded bore
• Sold individually

Appearance and finish

Galvanizing is a finish applied to steel: this is not stainless steel. The galvanized finish has a zinc-grey appearance, particularly visible inside the fitting. The external threads retain a machined metallic appearance.

Assembly advice

1. Check that both female fittings match the selected size.
2. Align the nipple carefully and start the threads by hand, without forcing them.
3. Plan the assembly sequence so that the parts being joined can still rotate.
4. Distribute the thread engagement between the two parts, then check that the joint is secure and aligned.

With no hexagon to grip, the threads must be protected during tightening. Do not mark them with tool jaws.

This nipple does not replace a union: on its own, it cannot close a frame whose two ends are already fixed and can no longer rotate.

Planning your decorative project

For a shelf, clothes rack or furniture leg, strength depends on the entire structure: spans, joints and fixings. No load rating is specified for this nipple alone; its size is not enough to determine how much weight your finished project can carry.

Compatibility

Use with female fittings of the same size and compatible thread. For a system carrying fluids, check the specifications of the particular fitting and the appropriate sealing method before use.

Choosing black or galvanized

Both finishes are available in the same sizes and with the same nominal dimensions. Choose to suit the look of your project; always check thread size and compatibility. Colour or finish alone does not identify a compatible thread.