# What is this kind of pipe fitting called so I can search for it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493 "2020-01-16T04:08:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/1 "2020-01-16T04:08:08Z")
I have a pressure gauge with a 3/8" threaded fitting (it was connected to an adapter with a compression fitting but I’m not going to use that). I want to connect it to a 1/2" or 3/4" iron pipe tee fitting like [this](https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-tee-12-in-fnpt-5p478/i/G0500683/). I see reducers to connect two male pieces of different diameter, but I need an adapter that is 3/8" female on one end (to receive a 3/8" male) and 1/2" male out (to go into 1/2" female). What do you call that? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/2 "2020-01-16T04:16:09Z")
A reducer? Like [this](https://www.stainlesssteelfittings.com/Pipe_Reducer_Bushing_stainless_5406_p/ss-5406.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoO_1l6GH5wIVGh-tBh0SuwRqEAQYASABEgIiEPD_BwE)? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/3 "2020-01-16T04:22:32Z")
Yeah, that’s it! All the reducers I saw had two female ends. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/4 "2020-01-16T10:44:38Z")
Where I come from, that is called a pipe bushing, or a pipe bushing reducer. Any good plumbing or hardware retailer should have it. If you will use it with any gas like natural gas or propane, it needs to made of either brass, or black pipe, not cast iron or galvanized pipe. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/5 "2020-01-16T13:37:53Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I have a pressure gauge with a 3/8" threaded fitting (it was connected to an adapter with a \*\*compression fitting \*\* … {Bolding mine} I think that the answer was given in the earlier posts but wanted to clear something up. Although the threads of a compression fitting looks like the threads of NPT fittings (the threads on the tee posted by you), they are not the same. So a “male” compression side will not fit into a NPT female fitting. You will have to buy a fitting with compression on one side and NPT on the other end. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/6 "2020-01-16T15:07:18Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > {Bolding mine} > > I think that the answer was given in the earlier posts but wanted to clear something up. > > Although the threads of a compression fitting looks like the threads of NPT fittings (the threads on the tee posted by you), they are not the same. So a “male” compression side will not fit into a NPT female fitting. > > You will have to buy a fitting with compression on one side and NPT on the other end. Bolding mine: it was connected to an adapter with a compression fitting **but I’m not going to use that** ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/7 "2020-01-16T15:08:46Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > Where I come from, that is called a pipe bushing, or a pipe bushing reducer. > > Any good plumbing or hardware retailer should have it. > > If you will use it with any gas like natural gas or propane, it needs to made of either brass, or black pipe, not cast iron or galvanized pipe. Thanks–this is for a steampunk lamp project, so all that matters is that things fit. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/8 "2020-01-16T20:56:02Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Thanks–this is for a steampunk lamp project, so all that matters is that things fit. Cool! May we see the end result? I like steampunk. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/9 "2020-01-17T00:12:55Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > Cool! May we see the end result? I like steampunk. Sure. I’m still in the concept stage, never did anything like this before. All I have right now is the gauge and trying to figure out the overall design. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/10 "2020-01-17T22:51:51Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Bolding mine: > > it was connected to an adapter with a compression fitting **but I’m not going to use that** Sounds good and looking forward to pictures of your project. If your project involves complicated shapes, then compression fittings (although more expensive) will give you lot of leeway to orient things. If you want to stick to NPT fittings, then consider using a few unions in place of couplings. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/11 "2021-06-15T15:30:42Z")
I forgot to come back to show the finished product. [![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/uwo1m9cf18cl7n8/2021-06-15%2011.26.45.jpg?dl=0) ](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/uwo1m9cf18cl7n8/2021-06-15%2011.26.45.jpg?dl=0) ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/12 "2021-06-15T15:35:32Z")
Nice! Does the knob actually turn the light on/off? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/13 "2021-06-15T20:39:32Z")
Yes. Inside the valve is a momentary switch, so when you turn the handle it engages the switch, then when you turn the handle the other way it releases it. I don’t think this is an optimal design because if you keep turning the handle, you are using mechanical advantage to apply a large force which can smash the switch. But it was the most reasonably priced thing I could buy without having to make one myself from scratch. I considered it but it’s kind of a big job when you’re only making one. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kind-of-pipe-fitting-called-so-i-can-search-for-it/846493/14 "2021-06-27T09:30:28Z")
That looks good. Thanks for posting the finished product.