Stainless Coupling Question

[CereousBrewer]

I'm tired of lifting full kettles and am getting ready to drill them and have couplings welded in. I purchased 1/2" SS couplings from NB and when I calipered them they measured 1 1/8" in diameter.

For some reason I thought I had read on the forum that they weren't quite that large. Before I buy the step bit and drill the kettles, I was wondering if someone could confirm that there isn't another type of coupling I should be using.

Thanks in advance for the reply.

 

[Cliff897]

I purchased 1/2" SS couplings from NB [...] 1 1/8"[.]]] I was wondering if someone could confirm that there isn't another type of coupling I should be using.

Well, since there's all sorts of couplings and what not it'd be helpful if you linked to the page where the deal has it.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

I've never actually measured them, but that sounds about right to me if I were to have to guess.

 

[BargainFittings]

It really depends on the source. Some of them are really large on the OD - 1.25" for some reason. The very nicely machined ones can be almost 1" OD

 

[Brewmoor]

Mine were were about 1 1/8. That seems right. You want to have some meat to weld to. Otherwise you might mess up the threads inside I would think.

 

[CereousBrewer]

Thanks for the input, everyone...I appreciate it.

 

[ReeseAllen]

The standard pipe sizes (at least in the US) often seem small compared to the actual dimensions. 1/2" pipes have an ID of around 1/2", but the OD tends to be much larger due to the wall thickness.