Telescoping pipe

[stuckmotor]

I seldom have trouble finding square tubing that will telescope but the black iron pipe at Lowes won't fit into the next size up and the size above that is a very loose fit. The problem isn't an inside seam on the outside pipe. The inside diameter of the outside pipe is just too small. What do you guys do when you want round pipe that will telescope with a nice fit?

 

[RickB]

Properly sized mechanical tubing.

 

[yomax4]

Most steel houses have a chart that will assist with round, square and rectangle tubing sizing for what you want to do. Wall thickness might not all be exactly the same though.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Just do a google search for pipe dimensions. There are several charts available (one from Saginaw Steel) that list all the variables in pipe ID, OD and wall thicknesses.
Tubing will likely be easier to match up with a specimen that will fit inside of another one. Piping has a few that will, 1.5" inside a 2" comes to mind but you have to get the schedule (thickness) right for this to happen. Matching up pipe OD's to fit the ID of another one is a bit time consuming when looking at the data.

 

[BHD]

most box stores carry schedule 40 one could try schedule 80, which is thicker and could take some of the slop out of the fit,

 

[3Ts]

There is a difference between pipe and tubing. Pipe has a minimum wall thickness but is allowed to vary a little. Tubing has a much more consistent wall thickness. If you are going to telescope the tubing, you should check out DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubing. It is very consistent and you can get different sizes with different wall thicknesses.

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks everyone. Your responses came in in a flash and gave me plenty of information to work with. I'll check what my supply house has when I'm out there. They finally got smart and put out samples. I was trying to go through Lowes because I didn't need much and the supply house won't sell less than a stick.

 

[Big Barn]

For a good telescoping fit I use DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubing which has the inside flash weld removed. Typically the inside diameter of the larger tube would be .010”larger than the outside diameter of the smaller tube for a nice sliding fit.

Here is an example of DOM tube I used for removable handles on a cart I made.





Edit: 3Ts gave same suggestion while I was typing.

 

[stuckmotor]

Nice work Big Barn. My work is crude compared to yours.

 

[bigtiller]

How much do you need? How strong do you want it?
Some ideas....
A big-stick CB base antenna is telescoping.
Some flag poles are also telescoping.

 

[stuckmotor]

I only need about six feet of approximately 3/4" and the same of whatever it would telescope into. Anything with the strength of black iron pipe ought to be ideal.
Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Captain Dirty]

I seldom have trouble finding square tubing that will telescope . . . What do you guys do when you want round pipe that will telescope with a nice fit?. . .and the supply house won't sell less than a stick.

Ask for telescoping tubing (or pipe) up front. A good salesman knows his stock and doesn't want to alienate a prospective customer. The salesman also has a computerized listing of drops, the remnants after making cuts on the 20 foot lengths. He should also know, and tell you, if his company doesn't stock telescoping sizes so you won't waste time searching a scrap pile looking for something that will not be there.

If you search the web long enough you can find almost anything, but web vendors may not have what you want in stock; the stock may be in their other warehouse far, far away; and shipping charges mount quickly. It may be more economical to pay the fee per cut so it can be shipped by UPS rather than motor freight.

 

[MossRoad]

As others have mentioned, DOM tubing would be my choice. I've ordered small pieces from here. It's worth a look.

Buy Steel Round Tube Online

 

[stuckmotor]

Captain Dirty and Moss Road,
Thank you both. I think I've come up with a workaround this time but, I'll keep your information in mind for the future.
Stuck

 

[MossRoad]

Now the question comes around to :Watcha makin'?" :laughing:

 

[bcp]

Compare ID and OD.

Bruce

 

[ArlyA]

I've used DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubing before. Love that stuff! Nonetheless, for a low strength, low cost, fit isn't a big deal application, I'd then not use it.

 

[stuckmotor]

MossRoad,
I have three frames in my driveway. One is my poor excuse for a welding table and has a vice mounted, one is simply a table, and the other is a heavy duty receiver hitch carryall that has been converted into a scrap iron basket. All have wheels on one end so I can lift the other end and move them around. I need to weld a couple of the larger tubes on the sides on one end of each frame so I can slide a pair of 3/4" tubes into them making handles. This will make them easier to lift and push without my legs bumping into the bottom of the frames.
The workaround is to weld angle iron into the appropriate size rectangles and slide the pipes into them, or use a hole saw to cut 3/4" holes into flat bar and weld it onto the sides of the frames. Either of these methods should allow me to more easily push the carts a round and to use one set of handles for all three carts.

 

[bcp]

One inch in 1 1/4 inch.

Bruce

 

[BukitCase]

The older I get, the more I tend to forget where I left the "other half" of "wheelbarrow handles" - these days, I tend to do more "captive" solutions, like my "offroad bandsaw" project (and yes, those ARE flat free tires :laughing: )


Those handles also pin in the DOWN position; there's also a "trailer tongue" that pins into the bottom receiver, so I can tow it with either my golf cart or ZTR. Couldn't think of a way to stow the tongue so I wouldn't keep tripping over it, so it stays separate... Steve