Nipple Removal

admin

It's pretty common to tear off a nipple when welding. If you don't do it, co-workers are often skilled at nipple abuse. No, not THAT kind of nipple! The kind on regulators and other fittings. You guys are sick for even thinking what you were thinking. This trick will let you remove the stub without hurting your regulator body. You should still open the thing to ensure no chips make it inside, but a new O-ring is cheaper and faster than sending out a reg for rebuild. Usual cautions apply so if you don't know what those are, find out how to clean things to "oxygen safe" condition where that matters. I'm not responsible if you fail to follow manufacturers recommendations and "thin the herd".I dress off the injured nipple with a file, drill it for a bolt extractor (mark your depth or use a tubing stop to avoid going too deep!), then cut off the extractor with a cutting disk so it doesn't go past the depth of the remaining nipple. Dremel cutoff wheels will work (slowly) if that's all ya got.Pics are of a 1/4" NPT nipple (standard inlet on most regulators).This works well on vehicle intake manifold fittings too. Attached Images
Reply:You ever see an extractor that's ready-made especially for pipe and fittings?They're shorter, bite better and don't tend to expand the fitting.Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 11-22-2011 at 05:00 PM.
Reply:http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece...set-93822.html Attached Images
Reply:Sorry...........I thought this thread was about somthin' else after reading the title
Reply:Thanks farmall - good thread.  Thanks denrep and rlitman; I didn't know those special extractors existed.  Learned something today!Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:They also make an assortment of internal pipe wrenches depending on the size of the pipe and the manufacturer. Attached Images.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I'm really liking the Wilde one on the bottom DSW!Matt
Reply:All common extractors posted so far and I've also used a simple cold chisel of the proper size to drive into a broken fitting then turn it out with an adjustable wrench - Crescent brand or otherwise.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I have a whole set of the wilde's and have yet to use one. I mostly use the ridgid extractors.Last edited by VPT; 11-23-2011 at 09:49 AM.
Reply:I was working from the POV of "grabbing what's likely on the shelf" and gettin' er done, but this has now turned into a Sexy Extractor Thread which is much better!
Reply:If broken stem removal is a usual part of your routine you really should have at least that size pipe extractor.No drilling, no filing, no measuring, no cutting...Just pound and twist.