Black Steel Close Nipple, 2 in and 3 in NPT, for Ground Joint Air Hose Fittings

A close nipple is the shortest nipple a given pipe size can be made in: threaded end to end with no plain barrel in the middle. It is what you reach for when two female fittings have to be joined back to back with nothing between them. On large bore air hose work that comes up constantly, joining a ground joint coupling to a manifold port, a tank bung or another female fitting with no room for a standard nipple. Sizes S1290: 2 in NPT black close nipple S1295: 3 in NPT black close nipple Working with close nipples There is no flat to grip, which is the one awkward thing about them. Use a proper nipple wrench or an internal pipe wrench rather than clamping a pipe wrench on the threads, because crushed threads on a close nipple mean the joint will never seal and you will not get it back out either. Use pipe thread sealant rather than tape on compressed air. Tape shreds and the pieces travel downstream into check valve seats and regulator seats, which is a slow and annoying failure to chase later. Black steel is unplated, so it will surface rust in a damp shop. That is cosmetic on the outside; what matters is that it is a pressure rated pipe fitting and not a plumbing store decorative part. Related parts We also stock ground joint hammer lock couplings, unions and four bolt clamps in 2 in and 3 in, plus anti whip safety cables and air hose. Black steel close nipples in 2 in and 3 in NPT for ground joint and hammer lock air hose assemblies.