Left Hand Thread Pipe Taps???????

JimDawson

Global Moderator
Staff member
H-M Lifetime Diamond Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
11,138
My neighbor picked up a few boxes of stuff at an estate sale. One of the boxes has a few left hand thread pipe taps from about 1/8 to 1/2 NPT. These are standard NPT taper. In 50 years of being around this stuff I have never seen a left hand thread pipe tap before.

Anybody have an idea what these might be used for?
.
  • .
 
I just did a web search for them, looks like they are commonly available. Learn something new every day.
 
I have an ancient steam autoclave. The stand for it is made from 12 sections of threaded 3/4" pipe, like so:Pipe Stand.JPG
The only way this could be assembled would be if both left and right hand pipe threads were used. Idon'tknow if they are tapered or straight pipe threads though.

Bob
 
Very common with gas lamps back in the day so there would not be an ugly unions visible.
My mother in laws house still has the gas pipes no unions. I too have those, but the rare
thing is finding left dies. .....
 
when I worked installing A/C central air over 35 years ago we would use a left right fitting for gas lines in the attic where you could not use unions. it would join to pieces one left hand the other right.
Here in New York City it is illegal to use unions anywhere in a gas system so left-right connections are common. They are usually sold as a set consisting of a 6" nipple and a coupling each with one end left hand treaded.
 
You can take this as Gospel, if there is a Tap, there is a Die to match.

"Billy G"
 
Back
Top