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whit3rd whit3rd is offline
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Default Weight bearing strength of 5 ft. of black iron pipe

On Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 7:38:28 PM UTC-7, Linda Iverson wrote:

What if I just want to use black steel pipe as a curtain rod to hang heavy velvet drapes spanning a window greater than 12 feet long without the need for a center support? Ill anchor ends using flanges (nipples and elbows) screwed into solid wooden header above window. Seems like it should be more than strong enough for such a girly thing.


Strong enough, perhaps, but for sag-resistance you want diameter, but not wall thickness (like
a water/air pipe intended for machine-threading the ends). Fence rail items

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Vinyl-Coated-Steel-Chain-Link-Fence-Top-Rail/999978242

have less pounds per foot of metal, but are cold-worked steel and should perform
acceptably; they join end-to-end (and with a bit of Liquid Nails applied, the joints will be rigid
enough for most purposes).

Designs of curtain rails of formed sheet metal will allow a 12 foot span, with
a brace at 6 feet, that doesn't interfere with the drape support elements (sliding plastic
in a steel channel). A central brace in these designs is usually not visible with the curtain closed.