Expert: Dana Bostick - 11/1/2009

Question
Dear Expert,
I am replacing a hand held shower head. My old shower head was mounted on a standard wall arm. A typical arm is about 6 inches long; add to it a swivel shower head (about 5-6 inches long) and the head is mounted about 11-12 inches from the wall, with the hose on the way. I could not find a shorter wall arm; for some reason, nobody makes them.
I am thinking about modifying the arm by cutting off both ends to about 1 inch long and re-threading it. I believe the standard arms have 1/2-14 NPT thread. The shower head I am buying is specified as having 1/2-14 NPSM connection, but anyway it should mount on a standard arm. I know that NPT is a tapered pipe thread and NPSM is straight. They probably make a leak-proof connection using teflon tape. I will try to find a 1/2-14 NPT die and re-thread the wall arm. Do you think it will work?
Thanks for the help.

Answer
Hi Alex,
You can buy chromed pipe nipples and many lengths.  Maybe that would serve your purposes. you will probably need to get them online or at a plumbing specialty or supply house, not a big box store.
Here's one place online that has anything you might need.
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/chrome.html
Best,
Dana