Metal tubing

[pete10]

Hi i wonder if anyone can point me in the right place .I'm looking to build some cages using
the build a ball system . But cant seem to find any metal tubing IE half inch .


Many thanks in advance.

[pete10]

[keef]

There's a scrap yard in Challow near Wantage (not that far from Reading), Burt Haynes, where you can buy cheap building materials. I think might they sell metal tubing.

[pete10]

Thanks Keef  will look in to that.

[katynewbie]

Just a question Pete...why metal? Was thinking it might rust?

???

[pete10]

Well something a little stronger than canes as they are very light.

[MikeB]

I use 1/2" copper pipe, i.e. water pipe, it's about $3 (GBP, american keyboard) for 10' It will never need replacing, so cheap in the long run.

[pete10]

Good shout Mike where would be the best place to get it .Somewhere like Travis Perkins ?

[wivvles]

I use 1/2" copper pipe, i.e. water pipe, it's about $3 (GBP, american keyboard) for 10' It will never need replacing, so cheap in the long run.

Doesn't it bend extremely easily?

[pete10]

Yes it can bend easy perhaps the more solid stuff would be better . I will check some out tomorrow
as i have a Travis Perkins next door to where i work .

[cambourne7]

Hi

I would also be intrested as i want to but a large fruit cage up (34ft by 14ft) and with scafolding i got a quote of £700!!!

I estimated that a wooden cage including the cost of hiring a post holer makes it about £300, so your ideas are welcome!!

Louise

[Hyacinth]

I've used copper pipe & it's rigid enough. Really pleased with it. Got mine at Wickes, tho if I'd known of a plumber's merchants around,  might have been cheaper?

[pete10]

Hi Alishka was the pipe in a roll or the straight solid stuff.

[pete10]

Sounds like a lot of money Louise perhaps the Ball system might be the way forward.

[cambourne7]

yep might be the problem is that its a very windy site and other people who have put up smaller fruit cages using bambo have collapsed.   :-\

[trojanrabbit]

Louise - it's all about suitable shape and bracing, I'm sure you could do something pretty sturdy if you went for a sort of domed geodesic kind of thing. For that matter, if it's really windy you might do well using long sections of plastic tube and making something with curved spars based on the designs you see in dome tents - should handle strong  gusty winds very well if you get it well nailed down and tied at the joints.


'Lish - I don't think you would have a much better deal elsewhere.... I certainly wouldn't recommend TP tho' Pete.
In general I commend to you the company Screwfix, ladies and gentlemen, for pretty much all your building, DIY, and hardware needs. Not a bad website, good prices (usually similar to Wickes or cheaper for fixings), free delivery (£6 handling fee if under £50) to your door, usually next day.

Have a look at the link for all things pipe related:
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/cat.jsp?cId=102639&ts=97203

[MikeB]

This is bog standard 15mm copper pipe used in your house, check the piping going to your taps say in the bathroom under the basin. Rigid, you would need a pipe bending gadget to bend it. I use wooden blocks approx. 2" x 2" with holes drilled in instead of the ball system, cheaper & stronger system.

[cambourne7]

I am still tempted by wood as copper has a high re-sale value and will be a target for theves.

Certainly thats what they targeted last time we were broken into.

If i was to build this in wood making boxed strutted frames linked together 11ft wide 7 foot high and cross brased linked would i need to sink anything into the ground???

[Hyacinth]

Hi Alishka was the pipe in a roll or the straight solid stuff.

straight solid stuff - like Mike's, sold for domestic use. About half was bought - the rest was from a bathroom re-fit at a house I work at which never made it to the skip 8)

[Barnowl]

All that copper wouldn't you be worried about lightning?  :D 

I've a (temporary) bamboo cage which has held up since June but I used loads of cross bracing and the supports for the raspberry wires are pretty substantial.

[pete10]

Nice info guys thanks .Managed to get down to B&Q the piping was rather exspensive so going
to try screw fix .