Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - shower mount
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umniy
10-31-09, 07:54 PM
Hi,
I am replacing a hand held shower head. My old shower head was mounted on a standard wall arm. A typical arm is about 6 inches long; add to it a swivel shower head (about 5-6 inches long) and the head is mounted about 11-12 inches from the wall, with the hose on the way. I could not find a shorter wall arm; for some reason, nobody makes them.
I am thinking about modifying the arm by cutting off both ends to about 1 inch long and re-threading it. I believe the standard arms have 1/2-14 NPT thread. The shower head I am buying is specified as having 1/2-14 NPSM connection, but anyway it should mount on a standard arm. I know that NPT is a tapered pipe thread and NPSM is straight. They probably make a leak-proof connection using teflon tape. I will try to find a 1/2-14 NPT die and re-thread the wall arm. Do you think it will work?
Thanks for the help.
I am replacing a hand held shower head. My old shower head was mounted on a standard wall arm. A typical arm is about 6 inches long; add to it a swivel shower head (about 5-6 inches long) and the head is mounted about 11-12 inches from the wall, with the hose on the way. I could not find a shorter wall arm; for some reason, nobody makes them.
I am thinking about modifying the arm by cutting off both ends to about 1 inch long and re-threading it. I believe the standard arms have 1/2-14 NPT thread. The shower head I am buying is specified as having 1/2-14 NPSM connection, but anyway it should mount on a standard arm. I know that NPT is a tapered pipe thread and NPSM is straight. They probably make a leak-proof connection using teflon tape. I will try to find a 1/2-14 NPT die and re-thread the wall arm. Do you think it will work?
Thanks for the help.
spdavid
11-01-09, 08:35 AM
Unless you are trying to preserve the bend in a shower arm you can save yourself a lot of effort and use a chrome plated brass 1/2 nipple that is shorter.Usually you can find 3 inch ones in the area where supply lines,valves etc are stocked in a hardware store.
If you don't care about looks you could also use a short brass nipple from the plumbing area.Galvanized would also work but you'd be mixing metals which would catch up to you eventually,the fitting in the wall is probably brass or copper (could be plastic).
Shower arms are chrome plated brass which is soft enough to rethread etc but that's a lot of work unless you absolutely must have the slight bend.
If you don't care about looks you could also use a short brass nipple from the plumbing area.Galvanized would also work but you'd be mixing metals which would catch up to you eventually,the fitting in the wall is probably brass or copper (could be plastic).
Shower arms are chrome plated brass which is soft enough to rethread etc but that's a lot of work unless you absolutely must have the slight bend.
umniy
11-01-09, 08:44 AM
Shower arms are chrome plated brass which is soft enough to rethread etc but that's a lot of work unless you absolutely must have the slight bend.
Thank you for the help. I was thinking about a short plated nipple too. My only concern is that the arm has about 45 degree bent down in order to direct water down and not overshoot. I am not sure if I use a straight nipple, the shower head swivel would angle it down enough. I guess, it depends on the particular shower head style, water pressure, etc. I will probably go this route before attempting re-threading the angled arm.
Regards.
Thank you for the help. I was thinking about a short plated nipple too. My only concern is that the arm has about 45 degree bent down in order to direct water down and not overshoot. I am not sure if I use a straight nipple, the shower head swivel would angle it down enough. I guess, it depends on the particular shower head style, water pressure, etc. I will probably go this route before attempting re-threading the angled arm.
Regards.