A threaded valve is made up hand-tight and then wrench-tightened a set number of turns past hand-tight, and fitters talk about how much thread is made up or left showing. The noun makeup also means the thread engagement length or the gap allowed between fittings when cutting pipe to length. Making up a flange means stabbing the gasket and torquing the bolts in a star pattern.
Make it up hand tight, then two more turns with the wrench, if you see more than three threads showing it's not in far enough.
Also heard as
- makeup
- made up
Related terms
NPT
National Pipe Taper: the tapered pipe thread used for threaded valves and fittings in North America.
Pipe dope
Paste thread sealant brushed on male pipe threads before makeup to seal and lubricate the joint.
Nipple
A short length of pipe, threaded or plain on its ends, used to connect two fittings or a valve to a fitting.
Union
A three-piece threaded fitting that lets a section of pipe or a valve be disconnected without turning the pipe.