"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
More design questions:

I need a stick-like thing, about 30 inches long, to go from a pivot point
to a little electric motor. It needs to be moderately rigid, light and
inexpensive in lots of 50 each or so. It would also be quite nice if it's
moderately attractive -- mill finish aluminum without too many scuff marks
is just fine for this. Prettier is better.

I'm thinking that thin-wall aluminum* tube of about 5/8" diameter will
work well, and I'm getting ready to be shocked once again by how much
things cost these days. While I'm waiting for quotes, I thought I'd
solicit the group for suggestions.

Fiberglass? Carbon fiber? Phenolic? Other plastics? Titanium**? Extra
thin-wall steel? Balsa wood comes to mind, but while it is low tech I
suspect it'll cost more than aluminum. Cooked spaghetti is too limp, and
uncooked is too brittle.

Anyone have suggestions? Do you have supplier names to go with your
suggestions?

* Alloy isn't terribly important. Even dead soft would work, although
harder would be better.

** OK, maybe it's more expensive than aluminum.

pvc pipe? venetian blind replacement rods? wooden dowels? you don't give a
lot of specs on size or what kinds of forces it has to withstand, whether it
has to be weatherproof, etc.