Pipe threading and wall thickness

[OregonBrews]

Hope some engineering type knows an answer:

I happened upon about 100' of stainless steel process air piping with misc valves, bends etc. Very professionally built stuff that was cutoff the biotech plant I work at (air only not the special sauce we make). It's mine for the taking so I'm researching how I can recycle it into something that will make beer for me.

Problem is I'm not setup to weld stainless so I was looking into threading up the pipe. However I don't know if it can be cut to any standard. The wall thickness is pretty thin. It was rated for fairly high pressure so not paper thin but pretty thin. Also the OD is 1" and my understanding is 1" NPT threads are cut in pipes with ~1.3" OD. Can this pipe be threaded? I can measure the wall thickness and provide some pics if necessary.

thanks in advance

 

[kladue]

Look at the outside of the pipe for the size and "SCH" numbers, it sounds like it could be 3/4" schedule 10 pipe which is too thin to thread.

 

[Marbleson]

You could try pressfit fittings, they are kind of expensive though.

 

[Catt22]

Odds are the wall thickness is too thin to accept threads. I would use compression fittings for this project.

 

[SweetSounds]

Sounds like you need Swagelok!

 

[OregonBrews]

Ack McMaster has 1" SS compression/NPT fittings for the bargain price of only $75 each. I could buy a welder and a plasma cutter for how much all the fittings would cost on what I have in mind. Thanks for the replies!

 

[bajema]

If the OD is 1", its probably 3/4" pipe, which has an OD of 1.05". Thread depth for 3/4" NPT is .057". Measure the thickness and see how much wall you'd have left after threading.

 

[ScubaSteve]

You could solder it nicely for cheap. You could also braze it for not much more. Both options would be strong, watertight, and attractive (with some practice).