Iron pipe not screwing all the way into the fittings?

Help! I'm losing my mind here, and the answer is probably so incredibly simple...

I'm building some of those Pinterest iron pipe shelves in our kitchen at the request of my wife. The iron pipes are not screwing all the way into the fittings (I can see there's a ton more thread to go on both the nipple and the flange). Each pipe is stopping at a slightly different point along the threads so nothing is even or even in the same zip code as level.

I've searched online to no avail. The only relevant post I found was someone building a desk, and the suggestion was Teflon tape. I tried that, and it didn't work. Any suggestions? Am I missing something? Are the pipes not supposed to screw in all the way?

I have to assemble the complete pipe structure first before attaching it to my wall to insure that everything lines up, so attaching the flange first and using a pipe wrench isn't going to work.

TL;DR - Iron pipe nipples not screwing in to fittings all the way. Teflon tape didn't help. What am I missing?

submitted by /u/schmogue
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from DIY https://ift.tt/2YMBlkS