Butt-Weld Fittings

A pipe fitting is used for changing direction, branching or joining together a piping system. There are many different types of fittings and they are produced in the same sizes, schedules (wall) and materials as the pipe.

The standard Butt-Weld elbows come in three basic radius’s 90°, 45°, and 180°. When requesting an elbow, the default standard is the “Long Radius” but they can also be supplied in “Short Radius”. The terms "Long Radius" and "Short Radius" are important to understand. "Long Radius" means that the center to end dimension is one and a half times the nominal pipe size. 

"Short Radius" means that the center to end dimension is equal to the nominal pipe size. A 180 degree return bend is not commonly stocked, and generally needs to be produced per request.

The primary purpose of a Tee fitting is to make a branch from a pipe line (or run). The branch may need to be the same size as the run or it may need to be one or more sizes smaller than the run. The dimensions for Tees you must look them up on a fitting chart. For Straight Tees the center-to-end dimension of both ends and for the branch outlet is the same. For a Reducing Tee the center-to-end of the branch outlet is different from that of the run.

A Reducer is a fitting used to change the line size one or more sizes smaller (or larger). There are two common versions of piping Reducers. There is Concentric Reducers- where the center line of the inlet and the outlet are the same. With the Eccentric Reducer, one side is flat. Concentric Reducers are used mostly in situations where the reducer is in a vertical run of pipe. Eccentric Reducers are used in horizontal runs of pipe.

The weld Cap is a fitting used to close the end of a pipe in which the closed end is generally semi-elliptical in shape unless made from solid bar.