3" Diameter steel tubing?

[Robbo]

Please, does anyone know where I could get a couple of metre length of 3" diameter steel tubing? Its for a 1.8m dish, so it must be strong.

Not had much luck so far.:mad: apart from SSStore and theirs is too expensive.

 

[guest poster]

yellow pages / google ... your local Steel Stockholders ... or scrap metal or scrap builders yards (take your wellies)


Poss' Sched 40 on short poles (<600mm to brace point).... but consider Sched 80 / steam pipe on longer or go larger ... 4" etc..

 

[guest]

Scaffold Poles not up to it?

 

[Robbo]

Scaffold Poles not up to it?

No, I don't think so Rai, I can get plenty of that

I'd rather play it safe with 3".

 

[aikon0029]

Please, does anyone know where I could get a couple of metre length of 3" diameter steel tubing? Its for a 1.8m dish, so it must be strong.

Not had much luck so far.:mad: apart from SSStore and theirs is too expensive.

How about making an enquiry with a scaffolding company ?

 

[rolfw]

Give Blakes a ring _http://www.blake-uk.com/page/masts/steelalum_masting , if they won't sell direct, they'll give you the name of someone who stocks their product.

 

[satelliteman]

Give Blakes a ring _http://www.blake-uk.com/page/masts/steelalum_masting , if they won't sell direct, they'll give you the name of someone who stocks their product.

Rolf, I did a while back and it will cost.

Robbo, hacksaw and a road sign springs to mind

 

[Robbo]

Rolf, I did a while back and it will cost.

Robbo, hacksaw and a road sign springs to mind

Ha Ha, never thought of that.

The stuff that Blakes sells, according to their website is up to 2mm thick, it needs to be a lot thicker.

 

[satelliteman]

Blakes do a 3" mast but was 3 Metres in length I believe. Not sure but the cost was over the £100 mark.

 

[guest poster]

This is what Channel Master used to say for their 1.8s ..P 5

_http://www.mmtelcom.com/IMAGES/1.8%20channel%20master.pdf

4 1/2" sched 40 .. to sched 80 ...

The Blakes stuff is well made for what it is ... but 80% is aerial stuff.


get yer wellies on and get down to scrappy-

 

[rolfw]

Found some 1/4" gauge 3" Aluminium tube here _http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=18300

 

[guest]

Rolf, I did a while back and it will cost.

Robbo, hacksaw and a road sign springs to mind

Sound idea on the face of it - but a lot of the Sign Supports around here are corroded right through: Wrong Steel composition I guess.

 

[aileen]

It is not possible to bend or snap scaffold pole in the lengths normally used. Strength of brackets would be my first concern. For security if absolutely required, I would spot weld a piece of angle iron to pole up to highest part available of attaching area or saw away parts for brackets to attach.

 

[guest poster]

I don't expect pure ali is too suitable either - we've used an 'alloy' that is as light and has very hard/ rigid characteristics…. pure ali’ is light & strong but I think too soft for that use and clamps will bite in perhaps too much to hold a 1.8. Their meaning for strength is more as a support.. perhaps welded into a frame etc.. rather than a free standing application that has to be so rigid.

******************

Road signs walls are too thin- 2-3mm (easier to hacksaw at 2 in the mornin' though.- but remember what happened to Cool Hand Luke)...

(could fill one with concrete and reinforcing bars)

******************

What size is the mount and what do they recommend... what make is the dish.

 

[guest poster]

Just as a safety footnote for anyone...

....if you do go to a scrap builders/ metal yard... don't get anything that's been used for chemicals .....

structural/ water- steam pipe and the food & drinks industry is fine..

 

[Robbo]

Thanks for all contributions received.:-worship

I just went and picked one up locally from a steel stockholder, after letting my fingers do the walking.

I got a 2.4m length of 5mm wall thickness circular hollow section 89 mm O/D steel ( a 3 inch diameter 8ft long steel pole in other words)
Cost me 40 quid.

I'll probably fill it with concrete to be sure and put a cross of threaded rods near the bottom to anchor it in.

 

[guest]

Sounds like a good solution.

£40 is probably well worth it bearing in mind the potential consequences of using something insufficiently robust.

 

[Robbo]

BTW Pedro, it is a 1.8m Precision prime focus.

 

[aileen]

This thread reminds me of my first ever job; Donkey's years ago: Learning Metallurgy at a Polytech. If you use any ballast compound for 'infill' remember it comes from an area which was once probably covered with sea. Salt aplenty leads to the pole rusting from the inside out. Will outlive you though.

 

[guest poster]

BTW Pedro, it is a 1.8m Precision prime focus.

I reckon 3" x 5mm wall 'with concrete reinforcing' with it being a ground mount and what will be in the ground … you must be pretty much there.

I think the measure is when it's on something like a weak H on 7w and there's a strong wind …just below their wind loading use limit.... and it's stood there solid while trees bend around it!

..I think that's a nice feeling for yourself &/or your customer..