materials question, cheapest plastic pipe

eddydeedee · Jan 23, 2014

I know plastics isn't a popular material here, but just asking in case

( and also because I don't know where to consult materials specialists so I am asking here)

- I am looking for an inexpensive 1 ½" diameter plastic tubing, in case there is anything cheaper than ABS or PVC pipe - needs to be as sturdy

- am almost ready to use central vacuum tubing, though it's not the best diameter, but in case there is something a bit more solid than central vacuum tubing, and as good as ABS or PVC with the same diameter as 1 ½" ABS or PVC, but cheaper than all the above.

Or where to find a 'materials specialist' in plastics, which is best word I can come up with for a type of person/profession I don't quite know about.

sorry of this isn't really the expertise here, but just in case

cheers
Eddy

S_W_Bausch · Jan 23, 2014

Browse the online McMaster Carr catalog.

McMaster-Carr

www.usplastic.com

adama · Jan 23, 2014

ABS or PVC because of shear volume is probably going to be cheapest. Unless you need a lot theres not going to be much cheaper. If you need lots, then reground material of low quality for such a non crucial part may well be cheaper.

As to plastics, more than a few of us work in them a fair bit. Equally more than a few of us here consider them a equal - better to any metal in certain circumstances.

matt_isserstedt · Jan 23, 2014

So I'm going to surmise you want cheap because you need a lot of it. My guess is PVC is made in insane volumes and would be the cheapest if it fits your application which we currently know zero about. I'd try to negotiate a large quantity discount instead of paying big box retail. The schedule 1120 is lighter weight and uses less material than Schedule 40. However it could also be a special order.

Oldwrench · Jan 23, 2014

eddydeedee said:
...inexpensive 1 ½" diameter plastic tubing, in case there is anything cheaper than ABS or PVC pipe...as good as ABS or PVC with the same diameter as 1 ½" ABS or PVC...

"Pipe" goes by a nominal ID but always has the same ID for a given size regardless of wall thickness (known as the "schedule"). "Tubing" goes by OD and wall. The tubing form of most engineering plastics is usually more expensive than solid rod of the same diameter. The only inexpensive plastic material with a hole in it is going to have pipe dimensions (sorry if that doesn't have to do with what you were asking about).

Sea Farmer · Jan 23, 2014

Topic title says pipe, but in your message you say tubing.

What OD are you actually looking for? 1.5" tubing has an OD of 1.5" 1.5" PVC pipe has an OD of 1.9" CPVC and ABS pipes are the same or very close--pipe sizes are nominal.

I have bought PVC pipe in pallet loads from a plumbing supply house for much cheaper per piece than the big box store price--but I had to buy the whole pallet--can't recall exactly, think it was around 200 lengths.

Local box store sells PVC conduit for a few pennies less than similarly-sized pipe, but the difference is trivial. Conduit sizing is the same as pipe sizing, at least in 1.5" and smaller.

On edit: old wrench was typing at the same time, but I think he meant pipe has the same OD, not ID

eddydeedee · Jan 23, 2014

Oldwrench said:
"Pipe" goes by a nominal ID but always has the same ID for a given size regardless of wall thickness (known as the "schedule"). "Tubing" goes by OD and wall. The tubing form of most engineering plastics is usually more expensive than solid rod of the same diameter. The only inexpensive plastic material with a hole in it is going to have pipe dimensions (sorry if that doesn't have to do with what you were asking about).

thanks Oldwrench, no, this is good to know about seeing as I am going to be steeping myself in tubing/piping as I develop my product, I'm not trained in mechanics or materials, just a school teacher trying a change of life with the use of invention ... anyway, materials and costs are going to be everything so I appreciate it

eddydeedee · Jan 23, 2014

matt_isserstedt said:
So I'm going to surmise you want cheap because you need a lot of it. My guess is PVC is made in insane volumes and would be the cheapest if it fits your application which we currently know zero about. I'd try to negotiate a large quantity discount instead of paying big box retail. The schedule 1120 is lighter weight and uses less material than Schedule 40. However it could also be a special order.

thanks Matt, good surmising, this is great to know, I am going to need lots if this gets off the ground, and lightness is going to be important for handling, putting together and shipping costs once I can get to that stage, and I'd still need to try it out in the prototype stage I'm in right now, right now I am using central vac tubing, not the ideal diameter because there are little variety of connectors, but looking like a good weight ... so I am quite curious now about sched 1120, will try to find some here in Winnipeg to check it out - I appreciate it

eddydeedee · Jan 23, 2014

Sea Farmer said:
Topic title says pipe, but in your message you say tubing.

What OD are you actually looking for? 1.5" tubing has an OD of 1.5" 1.5" PVC pipe has an OD of 1.9" CPVC and ABS pipes are the same or very close--pipe sizes are nominal.

I have bought PVC pipe in pallet loads from a plumbing supply house for much cheaper per piece than the big box store price--but I had to buy the whole pallet--can't recall exactly, think it was around 200 lengths.

Local box store sells PVC conduit for a few pennies less than similarly-sized pipe, but the difference is trivial. Conduit sizing is the same as pipe sizing, at least in 1.5" and smaller.

On edit: old wrench was typing at the same time, but I think he meant pipe has the same OD, not ID

that's right, sorry about that, the OD has to be the one for 1.5" PVC, or ABS, which is actually, as you say 1.9" - and this is because the connectors I am using are for these diameters - so it is pipe, not tubing, thanks, my mistake

eddydeedee · Jan 23, 2014

S_W_Bausch said:
Browse the online McMaster Carr catalog.

McMaster-Carr

U.S. Plastic Corporation | Plastic Tanks | Plastic Buckets | Plastic Bottles | Labware | Plastic Tubing | PVC Pipe | U.S. Plastic Corp.

thanks SW, the usplastics.com seems to have some things that could be of interest for me ... I'll keep looking at it

surplusjohn · Jan 23, 2014

if you need 1 or 2 thousand pounds you can go to a custome extruder, who would probably have a die already and you can get a custom run. PVC is going to be your cheapest in this scope of things. does it have to be glueable? uv stable? color? strength? also look at furniture tubing, ie the stuff sold for making outdoor furniture.

S_W_Bausch · Jan 23, 2014

Oldwrench said:
"Pipe" goes by a nominal ID but always has the same ID for a given size regardless of wall thickness (known as the "schedule"). "Tubing" goes by OD and wall. The tubing form of most engineering plastics is usually more expensive than solid rod of the same diameter. The only inexpensive plastic material with a hole in it is going to have pipe dimensions (sorry if that doesn't have to do with what you were asking about).

Uh, I think you mispoke, regarding Schedule pipe dimensions.

PVC Pipe Size Dimensions, Identification & Pressure Ratings 1/8" thru 12" and larger.

And since I have been doing some research on this exact topic, don't forget "furniture grade" PVC pipe. Supposedly tougher, UV resistant, and none of that pesky printing on it. Not sure about price comparisions. The FlexPVC site has furniture grade PVC, as well as all of those trick fittings.
http://flexpvc.com/indexPVCFurnitureFittings.shtml

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