RoyJ wrote:
A couple of the posts hinted at it but: There are 3 kinds of
electrical grade round metal tubes: thin wall conduit (commonly
called EMT), intermediate (uses standard fittings, has a wall just
thick enough to take the threads) and rigid conduit (same dimensions
as pipe, just different specs for surface finishes) All of them are
galvanized or zinc plated. All of them have funny measuring systems
where they are marked for the inside dimension.
The thin wall conduit used to run about $1.25 per 10' in 1/2" (trade
size), currently running close to $3/ft due to steel prices.
Lightweight, easy to use, easy to bend with a hand bender. Use
hydrochloric acid to strip off the zinc. Down side is that the steel
is fully annealed and VERY soft. You can easily bend the 1/2 and 3/4"
sizes over your knee.
Intermediate grade is much stonger than thinwall but will likely be
too expensive for your needs. Rigid is a high grade water pipe, more
$$ yet.
If you are doing frames and handles, take a look at black iron pipe.
Typically sold as gas pipe at Home Depot and others. You can get a
hydraulic bender at Harbor freight, stuff welds great.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=32888
Cheers.
Ronnie wrote:
I'm tired of trying to find 1/2" thin wall, round tubing (not pipe).
It was suggested locally that I try using rigid EMT electrical
conduit. Anyone use this for projects? I don't know why it won't
work; it doesn't appear to be galvanized. The best part is .26 cents
a foot versus $3.00 a foot for mailorder tubing.
Ronnie
I was asked by my local fire department to modify a smoke extractor. The
problem was that this piece of equipmemt was gas powered and the exhaust was
ritch in CO. The aim was to get the exhaust out of the intake of the air
flow. The solution was an extension of the exhaust system.
I took a piece of EMT tubing - expanded cold with a shop made mandral and
fitted to the stock exhaust. Worked perfectly! That EMT tubing was easy to
work - much to my suprise.
your mileage may vary.
Regards.
Ken.
--
http://www.rupert.net/~solar
Return address supplied by 'spammotel'
http://www.spammotel.com