Can you make a rectangular frame out of standard iron pipe and fittings?

Question

You have to use less than 10 pieces. It must be rigid. It does not have to hold water. It CANNOT involve a union. No bending. No welding. It has to be done with standard plumbers tools. All pipe must be the same diameter. No reverse threading. I'm stumped. But I know a guy who swears it can be done. Do you knowit?

You have to use less than 10 pieces. It must be rigid. It does not have to hold water. It CANNOT involve a union. No bending. No welding. It has to be done with standard plumbers tools. All pipe must be the same diameter. No reverse threading. I'm stumped. But I know a guy who swears it can be done. Do you knowit?

I forgot to specify that the sections of pipe count as "pieces".

Answer 1

The key is that the joint are not water tight. So a loose fit on one or two joints would make it possible.

4 elbows
5 nipples ( 3 - 6inch, 1 - 3 or 2 1/2 inch and 1- 2 inch)
1 coupling( 1 inch long

One leg of the frame is made up of two shorter nipples. A coupling is used to joint these together. Normally a union would be used to make a water tight fit but a sloppy loose connection with a coupling can be done as only a thread or two will be engaged on one connection. (A connection none the less)

The key here is that the coupling it over threaded on to one nipple end. The other nipple is placed into the other end of the coupling. This nipple has also been over tightened into its elbow.

First back off the overtightened nipple from the elbow. As you unthread from the elbow you will be threading into the coupling. Then switch to the coupling and repeat the process. Unthread the coupling from one nipple and it will tighten on to the other.

Answer 2

Well, you are going to have to get the guy to show you, because until I remembered about unions, I created a couple of plumbing nighmares in my house where I could put it together but not take it apart. Under the conditions you claim, not fully threaded. I thought for a moment that you could make a distorted frame and catch only a few threads as it was flattened, but that would not meet my definition of rigid.