Nipples?
 

Well - I'm looking at your guys' designs - and thinking about making my own - but I'm not sure what to do about nipples. No - not that kind of nipples. The metal kind that are on waterblocks (I believe that's what they're called?) Surely you can't just mill them - they have too complicated of a shape and they're round. Or have some of you tried? Do you buy nipples somewhere and just weld them on? Thanks!

most people around here call them barbs.

if you aren't too picky you can usually find some at a local hardware store but if you want a specific size you'll most likely have to special order it somewhere online.

I turned/lathed/milled/drilled my own, turned out rather nice. 12,5mm inner diameter, and still I can use a ½" hose on them. Saved me 30$.

30!!!!??? Some of the nicest barbs I saw were under $4US each. Unless you are talking Canadian which may equal to about $30. :D

Hmmm, the 1/2" barbs I used on the White Water for the last 90 blocks that I made were costing me around 90c US each, and that included 10% tax. Extremely nice barbs too.

Barbs can be picked up at Home Depot in the USA, or any hosing & fitting supply store. Supply stores that sell barbs are absolutely everywhere, but unless you're in the trade, you won't realise this initially. Pick up the Yellow Pages and look under "Hosing and Fittings Suppliers". If you live in any city of more than 10000 people, I can almost guarantee that there'll be store near you that will sell barbs of all shapes and sizes.

Which brings be to something I wanted to ask for a long time. How are the brass barbs you can buy made?

In a machine centre on a lathe.

Get a solid tube of brass.

Cut to length.

Lathe out the outer shape

Mill off the hex shape.

Tap the thread

Drill the holes

All done.

They set up a sequence of automated operational steps/machines to do this, in a mini-production line style, and would be pumping the barbs out very rapidly.

Well, I needed 6 of them, and they cost 5$ each here.

Find a different place to buy them from.

Here in Australia I can buy barbs for at most around $4 US each, or I can get them for under $1 US each. It all depends on where you shop and how much they are ripping you off.

Barbs of the normal kind (circular, lathed and threaded) cost around 20-25c US each to make. Keep that in mind when deciding how far you want to bend over the barrel at the checkout counter. If they're charging you $5 US each, then tell them that you expect a kiss, a box of chocolates, and some flowers before you'll willingly subject to being ass-raped on the price.

lol

i think last time i bought barbs i was charged $0.7 each.

i am amazed if you bought barbs at around $5 each :eek:

Well, amazingly, Hong kong doesn't use the style of barbs I need.

The thread is on the inside, as far as I know.

Anyways, I managed to find one shop that sells them, but the problem is, the barb is 3/4 in the threaded end, although being 1/2 on the barbed end.

Now I need somebody nice to send me some...

if you didn't find any, try here

go in the search and type barbs.

you will find any kinds of barbs you would need, with inner thead or with outer thread

Well, I DIDN'T buy them to that price Balinju. =) I made my own. The point is, I saved money, now everybody please stop whining about how cheap everything is in your big countries with lots of people buying and selling...

i can assure you that our county is not big, infact i wonder if you know whether it exists or not :D

secondly i can't understand why can't we say how much we bought our barbs?? What is the problem?? :confused:

Don't worry, I know about Malta. Lots of people going there to read english. =)
Well, go on then, it's just that Sweden is so expensive it hurts my eyes to see what people are paying in the US and so. =)

Actually a 1/2" 1/4" NPT threaded brass barbs around here is near impossible to find. Non of the hardware stores OR plumbing stores sells them. All they have is 3/8" 1/4" NPT or 1/2" 3/8"NPT. Only place I found 1/2" 1/4" NPT was at NAPA. And they are $3.50US there. There is however a place called House of Hose localy that sells them aswell for around $1US each. Unfortunatly they have the same hours I have at work. ordering off the net is my only savior. :D

I made mine ½" inner diameter and 5/8 threads. But then I made my block too, so the fit wasn't a problem. =)

My last bunch of blocks have all been single inlet double outlet. There just isn't enough room for anything larger than 1/4" NPT threads. They take up a strong 1/2" by them selfs. Then leaving gap for 1/8" thick hose which is another 1" adding ion for hose clams aswell. That takes up 2.5". That leaves 1/4" on both ends for the 1/8" O ring groove. Comes out just right. :)

From the CIA World Fact Book

Australia: 19.5M people
Sweden: 8.9M people

Australia is also one of the most remote nations on the planet, and is not part of any collective trade union, like the EU.

heehee
 

Second only to New Zealand :)

Balinju's McMaster link might work well here.

I have to admit, I take for granted not having to order parts internationally, as I'm sure happens with pretty much every other country than the US. I cringe at the thought of having to explain to some customs agent what it is that I ordered, and why, as well as paying them whatever duty they see fit.