Home Distiller

Hi all,

I went to tradelink today and bought sme fittings.

My 1" copper elbows fit onto my pipe

How ever, my 1"-1/2" reducers dont fit. the 1/2" pipe fits in but the 1" side is the same size as my 1" pipe.

my 2" - 1" reducer is the same, 2" side is the same size as the 2" pipe so it wont fit, but the 1" side will fit the 1" pipe into it?

I am confused?????

Am I doing something wrong? or do i need to do something??

please help.

OK it is an easy mistake to make, and it is not a problem.

There are two types of reducers:
Female to Female - both ends are sockets that the correct size pipe will fit into.
Female to Male - the small end is a female socket that a pipe will fit into, the big end is male (the same size as the tube) and this fits INTO another fitting. For example it will fit into a bend, into a T, or even into a straight slip coupling.

It will ALSO (and this can be usefull) fit into a compression coupling. Used in this way it is 1 way to create a rotatable joint.

EDIT: Have you posted a diagram yet of what you intend to build? It might save you a bit of cash if someone on here spots any mistakes.

+2. It is very easy to get these joints round the wrong way and order/buy the wrong connections.
Myles definitely nailed it with his description.

+2 also on posting up a diagram of your intended build, it always help..

Good luck...

I run into this issue constantly with 1.25" copper... Virtually every reducer/fitting is the same size as the copper pipe so couplers are required... The plus side to this is that I can make a more modular rig by only soldering one side of the coupling, leaving a slip joints that can be sealed with flour paste to end up with whatever configuration I desire for a specific run...

Generally if the description is correct.

If it is listed as a Reducer. It should be able to accept the pipe size both ends.

If it listed as a Reducer Fitting. It should accept the smaller of the two pipe sizes. And fit into another fitting on the larger pipe size. So it would be tje same size as the bigger pipe.

This doesn't always happen when you are dealing with individuals. They will list things any way they want. Same goes for triclamps. There are 4 different types of triclamp setups. And if your buying from an individual its a crap shoot if your getting the right one.

Yep. From the reading lounge:
A "reducer" is a fitting that goes from one size to another. The end's of such a fitting are designated either "C" for socket fitting or FTG for pipe size fitting. As the name implies...socket fittings (C) are the nominal female fitting that accepts copper pipe of the same size...ie., standard fitting end. If it's FTG...it is "pipe" size on that end so it can fit "inside" another C fitting just like a piece of pipe. These are helpful when you want to put two fittings together back to back....ie., so you don't have to put a short piece of pipe between them. So, a fitting can be C x C (both female socket ends that accept nominal pipe) or it can be C x FTG.

Example: if you have a 1" C x FTG fitting, the socket end will accept 1" pipe and the other end "is" 1" pipe size that will fit directly into the socket end of the next fitting. Clear as mud?