Pipe clamp questions:

[Healthie]

Hi gang:

Just put pipes clamps together, they’re wonderful. 2 questions:

1. I have 1/2” pipes; what kind of coupling should I buy to extend them? Amazon has brass 1/2 to 1/2 for $7.50 ea.
2. What do you rub on the pipes for smooth movement of the clamp pieces?

[HPstache]

Hi gang:

Just put pipes clamps together, they’re wonderful. 2 questions:

1. I have 1/2” pipes; what kind of coupling should I buy to extend them? Amazon has brass 1/2 to 1/2 for $7.50 ea.
2. What do you rub on the pipes for smooth movement of the clamp pieces?

I am assuming they are threaded on the ends?  Do you have a link to what clamps you have?  $7.50 and brass sounds more like a garden hose part to me.  If I were in your shoes, I'd head to a hardware store, or Lowe's/ home depot and ask for a 1/2" pipe coupler like this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/LDR-Industries-1-2-in-Black-Iron-Coupling-312-CO-12/100564506?mtc=Shopping-VF-F_D26P-G-D26P-26_1_PIPE_AND_FITTINGS-MULTI-NA-Feed-LIA-NA-NA-PIPE_AND_FITTINGS_General&cm_mmc=Shopping-VF-F_D26P-G-D26P-26_1_PIPE_AND_FITTINGS-MULTI-NA-Feed-LIA-NA-NA-PIPE_AND_FITTINGS_General-71700000055362044-58700005218218026-92700046076001482&gclid=CjwKCAjw2a32BRBXEiwAUcugiIW0p3dv9tFY9DsJUnD_dNP-s-bK-IuRbfUux-_hMNBfAvXoraqWFhoCtiEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Not sure what to say about a rub for the pipes... most of the time I live with a little roughness for the slide.

[BudgetSlasher]

I have a pile of 3/4 black iron pipe clamps.

As to your questions:

1) I use regular threaded couplers (mine happen to be galvanized) that are available with the pipe in any big box store.

2) I have done nothing to the pipes to make them smoother. I do scrape off what gets on them (wood filler, glue, polyurethane adhesive, ect.) They have gotten a little smoother with use, but I never felt that I needed to smooth the pipes; that might vary by brand for clamping mechanism.