Pipe Nipples & Swages

Inventory

First Distributors can often provide the items listed below for a same-day delivery.  Large quantities, custom sizes, and special alloys (Alloy 20, Monel, Hastelloy, Inconel, Titanium, etc) may be subject to a longer lead time for delivery.





	Size Range:1/8" - 6" Diameter




	End Connections:Threaded, Plain, Beveled




	Schedules:40 (STD), 80 (XH), SCH160, XXH




	Carbon Steel:A106, A53, A350, A234 (swages only)




	Stainless Steel:304, 316, 321, 347




	Exotic Alloys:Alloy 20, C276, Duplex 2205, Duplex 2507, Monel, Inconel, Incoloy 800, Incoloy 825

Overview & Application

A nipple is a fitting, consisting of a short piece of pipe, usually provided with a male pipe thread at each end, for connecting two other fittings or pipeline components.  Nipples are commonly used as adapters from one connection type to another.  Similar to a nipple in many ways, a swage is a reducing nipple, used to connect two different sized fittings.

Concentric

Eccentric

A Guide to Dimensions, Material, and Construction

Since pipe nipples are manufactured by cutting a specified length of pipe and applying the desired end connections, the dimensions and material follow from pipe specifications. Similar to pipe, however, pipe nipples may come in either a seamless or welded construction.
For swages, like reducing nipples, they come in two types: concentric and eccentric. These are shown below. Also, rather than being manufactured to pipe material specifications, carbon steel swages come in A234, and they are always seamless in construction. Lastly, please note that since each end of a swage is of a different size, the wall thickness (schedule) of each side can also be different.

Length

Nipples can come to any specified length, but most commonly range between close to 12”. A close nipple is the shortest piece of pipe necessary to allow for fully threaded end connections, where there is no smooth surface between threads.
Unlike pipe nipples, swages are manufactured to industry standard lengths that do not vary.

End Connections

Common end connections for pipe nipples are plain both ends (PBE), threaded both ends (TBE), beveled ends (BBE), threaded one end (TOE), beveled one end (BOE), plain one end (POE) or a combination thereof, depending on the ends of the piping system into which the nipple will be fitted.

A PBE nipple (plain both ends), has two plain ends, with no thread, typically used to fit a socket weld connection.
A TBE nipple (thread both ends) has two threaded ends, used to fit female threaded connections
A BBE (beveled both ends) has a bevel on each side of the nipple and is used for welding purposes similar to a buttweld fitting.

When listing the end connections of a swage, unlike a pipe nipple, the order matters.  The end connection of the larger OD is listed first, and the smaller OD second.  There are several end connections/combinations available for swages: threaded both ends (TBE), threaded by plain (TXP), plain by threaded (PXT), plain both ends (PBE), beveled by threaded (BXT) or other combinations of plain, threaded, and beveled.  The end connections of the swage depends on the end connections of the piping system into which the swage will be fitted.

Note: Industry language sometimes includes specifications such as "PSE x TLE", which simply means plain short end by threaded long end; the "S" stands for short and the "L" stands for long.

Coating

Ball valves will come in a few variations of end connections; this will usually give you an idea of the range of pressure classes you should choose from for your valve. Cast and forged ball valves will share the same end connections, but you should specify which type of end connections you will need for your project. Ball valves are “Bi-Directional” meaning material can go either way through the valve and you will not have to worry about installing the valve a certain way on the pipeline.