Author Topic: Metal tubing (Read 10590 times)

gary · « **Reply #20 on:** October 24, 2006, 21:34:55 »

Copper pipe is very expensive at the moment, thus making it very attractive to some people if it is not nailed down.
It works out about £2 to £3 per meter for 15mm lengths new, but £2 per kilo as scrap value (where I am)

cambourne7 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2006, 00:30:08 »

so the alternatives are bambo, wood and plastic?

Spruance · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2006, 00:36:46 »

How about an adaptation of a Geoff Hamilton idea? Alkathene water pipe with doweling or canes inserted for rigidity?

cambourne7 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 25, 2006, 11:00:44 »

Quote from: Spruance on October 25, 2006, 00:36:46

How about an adaptation of a Geoff Hamilton idea? Alkathene water pipe with doweling or canes inserted for rigidity?

Intresting just googled it and found this http://www.colinlawrence.free-online.co.uk/page5.html

Is this the same as http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=19606&ts=69799

does anyone know?

I was wondering if i put loops of this along the 34 feet say every 5 feet and build in a simular wooden frame but no so high maybe 2 ft would that work?
If i cable tied the netting to the pipe would that help hold it together?

Melbourne12 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 25, 2006, 11:14:47 »

Yes, I use this tube quite a lot, and it is indeed the same stuff. You can also buy it at DIY stores for a similar price.

We use it over raised beds to carry netting for strawberries and brassicas. However, more than about 1 metre width and 1.2 metres high and it tends to twist under the load. You can strength the structure with battens and so on, but that raises the cost and makes removing the net a bit of a pain.

To be honest, I wouldn't use alkathene tubing for anything as large as a fruit cage. It'll twist and sag like billy-o.

Using cable ties on the net is a good idea, but the costs add up if you use them too extensively. I'm assuming you'll want to remove the net at the end of each season.

cambourne7 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 25, 2006, 11:50:26 »

Hi

I am not all that bothered about removing it once its up.

I have been looking into doing this

- add a 3ft high box around the area ( have lots of wood so this is not a problem )
- will add a 10ft bambo cane into each end of a peice of tubing sinking each bit by about a foot and a half into the ground
- the spacing will be approx 6ft
- Rope will knit around each pole in 3 places ( either side and top ) and tie off at either end of the cage where i will put a trellis.

Questions

Whats the best tool to cut the tubing?
Do you think that will hold it in place?
How do i caclulate how much pipe to order? i.e. if i want to have this 6ft high in the middle(min) and it has to span an area 14ft how do i calculate the lenth of each ARC of pipe? I am not mathamaticaly minded so dont know.

steveuk · « **Reply #26 on:** October 25, 2006, 12:28:02 »

Pete10 you probably have, but have you tried ebay?

ruffmeister · « **Reply #27 on:** October 25, 2006, 13:06:53 »

but what would you search for?

Melbourne12 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 25, 2006, 13:43:26 »

Quote from: cambourne7 on October 25, 2006, 11:50:26

... Questions

Whats the best tool to cut the tubing?
Do you think that will hold it in place?
How do i caclulate how much pipe to order? i.e. if i want to have this 6ft high in the middle(min) and it has to span an area 14ft how do i calculate the lenth of each ARC of pipe? I am not mathamaticaly minded so dont know.

I use a cheap tenon saw kept for the purpose (or you can buy a specialist pipe cutter). The main problem with the tubing is that it comes in a coil, and is difficult to hold straight and steady whilst you cut it. I use one of those mini-workbench things that clamp it in place. Mark it with a magic marker, then cut.

Personally I don't think that you've got a hope of keeping a 14 foot span in place, no matter how you stiffen it. You might do better with two 7 foot spans.

Here's a formula for working out the length. You'd be wise to "add a bit" because the pipe won't follow the arc exactly.

If you were to have: 1.5 feet in the soil, 3 feet vertical sides, then an elliptical arc spanning 14 feet, with an additional 3 feet height in the middle (making it 6 foot max headroom), then you'd need 25' 4" of pipe. Call it 26 feet.

Best of luck.

MikeB · « **Reply #29 on:** October 25, 2006, 13:48:30 »

Quote from: cambourne7 on October 25, 2006, 11:50:26

How do i caclulate how much pipe to order? i.e. if i want to have this 6ft high in the middle(min) and it has to span an area 14ft how do i calculate the lenth of each ARC of pipe? I am not mathamaticaly minded so dont know.

The complete circle is pi x d, = 22/7 x 14 (where d is the diameter of the circle)
=44'
1/2 circle =44/2
=22'

This would be 7' high in the middle.

cambourne7 · « **Reply #30 on:** October 25, 2006, 15:29:17 »

thanks guy...

..will pass it by the hubbie :-)

pete10 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 25, 2006, 20:44:25 »

Good advice from every one lots to think about many thanks.

steveuk · « **Reply #32 on:** October 25, 2006, 21:31:57 »

Quote from: ruffmeister on October 25, 2006, 13:06:53

but what would you search for?

tubing all round search

cambourne7 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 25, 2006, 22:48:58 »

Hi

I think i am going to go for the tubing idea, but i am going to get rebar metal poles rather an bamboo sink some into the ground and that should hold it in place along with some guide ropes.

I am going to call travis perkins tomorrow and see what they have.

I am really excited :-)

I have my boysenberry in a pot and it should be ok for 2-3 weeks. I can get the fruit cage done and the boysenberry planted before i go on holiday - exciting

many thanks to all the invaluable help and special thanks to pete 10 for letting me piggyback his posting
:-)

Will publish pictures as it goes up :-)

timf · « **Reply #34 on:** October 27, 2006, 13:17:08 »

look in the yellow pages under steel stock holders

ring one up and ask for a price on 1/2 " ERW tube
should be about £5 for a 6 metre length

Tim

pete10 · « **Reply #35 on:** October 27, 2006, 18:13:36 »

Nice one Tim will give it a go .

bunjies · « **Reply #36 on:** October 28, 2006, 19:45:32 »

i think i still have the 12 or 14 foot carbon poles from my old tunnel tent i think there are 4 of them. very bendy and VERY STRONG. if you are going for a domed effect they may be ideal. i f i still have them and you can do the postage, you can have them ;)

Pigface51 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 02, 2006, 13:21:41 »

I've found that a nice easy (cheap) way of using a ball system is geting a bag of 50 'plastic play balls' from Early Learning centre and using them for small frames. For larger frames I've used some old tennis balls that I've 'surgically enhanced'.

A friend has done something similar using old wood blocks taken from pallets, although he uses them with copper pipe as they tend to bend bamboo.

mr plasma · « **Reply #38 on:** November 02, 2006, 15:08:43 »

you could try poly pipe,the sort thats used for waste pipes .it wouldn't bend if you thread bamboo through it and its easy to join at the corners with all the fittings that are available, I'm sure it would be cheaper than £300

manicscousers · « **Reply #39 on:** November 02, 2006, 15:54:23 »

we got an old tent frame fro a car boot and ray jiggled round with it and we got two frames and some metal posts to tie sprouts up

News:

Author Topic: Metal tubing (Read 10590 times)