On Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:29:43 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

Your "venetian blind rods" turned into "polycarbonate tube".

McMaster sells polycarbonate tube -- they have some 1/8 wall 5/8 OD tube
that should be OK, if a bit more brittle than I'd really like. They want
less than $2.50 a foot, and I should be able to get it for much less
elsewhere if I dig. I'll see what else they have.

1/2" CPVC pipe might work. It is readily available and not very
expensive.