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What is the differnce in pipe and round tube

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Ducks-Bass-n-Jeeps, May 29, 2006.

  1. May 29, 2006
    Ducks-Bass-n-Jeeps

    Ducks-Bass-n-Jeeps A Parade of One

    Brentwood, Tennessee
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2003
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    120
    I was at fab shop the other day debating on some additional work. The guy asked if I wanted pipe (i.e. Schedule 40) or round tube.

    What is the technical difference?

    Does it really matter what material you use to make a cage out of for trail jeep?
     
  2. May 29, 2006
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Mar 4, 2003
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    Wall thickness and the way it is formed. I used .120 DOM walled 2" for my cage. With the better strength now days in the DOM you can use 1 1/2" and get the same strength as the 2 gave in the old days.
     
  3. May 29, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    There has been so much debate over this subject. So much it just takes forever to read. there is a big debate on Pirate over it. I myself made my cage out of pipe. The design is basic and will work fine. If i was climbing mountains and had to worry bout dropping off a 1 foot cliff, maybe i would go real string, but given even a cage poorly made with the best materials will fail. Do a search on pirate 4x4 about tube vs pipe and see the whole debate. I made my reason based in the fact that nobody of all the nay sayers can prove a picture of a cage made out of pipe breaking or failing. It is funny that a bunch of guys are making pipe buggies and they see alot of abuse.
     
  4. May 29, 2006
    Tiredcj6

    Tiredcj6 New Member

    Camrose Alberta...
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    May 22, 2006
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    i wish i had the ole jeep i had a while back. my buddy owned it and had built a "We thought" rock solid sched 40 pipe cage. he rolled it a full 720 sideways and that thing split open like a tuna can. the seams are what let go. i will atleast use hrew but prefer dom. always try to keep your seems to the inside of your bends. migging the joints is good. tigging is better. thats all i know..
     
  5. May 29, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Scott I'm pretty sure there was a lengthy thread about this on here not tooooo long ago. Might be able to search and find it... :beer:
     
  6. May 29, 2006
    Ghetto Fab.

    Ghetto Fab. Member

    Atascadero, Ca.
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    Of course most of that debate is over using schedule 40 black water pipe. There are different grades of pipe available just not as easy to find.

    There is no arguing that a DOM cage will be stronger than HREW which is stronger than common pipe. However I think the big naysayers have seen one two many cobbled together ill designed attempts at cages by people that use pipe and hencforth think that all pipe cages must be bad. I do believe a properly designed and built pipe cage would do the job just fine for a recreational wheeler, but a DOM cage would be stronger and lighter.

    I've used a lot of schedule 40 for bumpers and stuff and it works just fine. I don't know if I would trust my skills to build a full cage out of it yet.

    Kevo
     
  7. May 30, 2006
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    Try to explain to your crushed skull or broken neck how much money you saved by building a roll cage out of water pipe.
     
  8. May 30, 2006
    Tiredcj6

    Tiredcj6 New Member

    Camrose Alberta...
    Joined:
    May 22, 2006
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    Posi you hit the nail on the head
    2 grand into the motor
    1500 buck winch
    sweet arse rims with 35's
    pipe cage that you think is safe for your kids and wife to ride in = dumb
     
  9. May 30, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Now lets keep this thread civil. No need to call people dumb.
    I knew it would go downhill.
    For more on the topic and to make your own decision, go search on the pirate board, there is more pros and cons there and physical data.
     
  10. May 30, 2006
    rookieupgrade1

    rookieupgrade1 New Member

    WI
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    37
    I like to use pipe sized steel tube.

    notice i did not say pipe, just pipe sized.

    Get the stregth of steel tube, less cost than DOM and the proper size to bend in a cheap harbor freight pipe bender.

    nice compromise and you need not worry about pipe split...........

    Not sure why my supplier has it but I won't complain:coffee:
     
  11. May 30, 2006
    Hansh

    Hansh Going Mobile

    SE Wisconsin
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    As above - not worth the risk of using pipe. Think about why all the(at least the ones I know) racing sanctioning bodies require DOM.
     
  12. May 30, 2006
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Just to throw another wrench in here, like pipe, DOM tubing comes in different materials with different structural ratings.
     
  13. May 30, 2006
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Bear in mind that pipe is a transfer medium, i.e. it's designed to carry liquids, etc. from place to place. It's not designed as a structural medium like most tube is. The question you have to ask yourself is it worth your life or your loved one's lives to go cheap on something as critical as a safety cage? Would you skimp on brakes or steering the same way? The decision is yours. Nickmil
     
  14. May 30, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I presume that DOM is drawn over mandrel and HREW is hot rolled electric welded. Is HREW intended as a structural material?
     
  15. May 30, 2006
    rookieupgrade1

    rookieupgrade1 New Member

    WI
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    Yes. Different application and not quite the quality of DOM.

    I use it simply because the steel in Pipe is just not a very good quality and not designed to handle compression or shear loads.

    As stated before pipe is for transfer of material.

    still not sure why my supplier has HREW tubing in pipe sizes. I think they ordered it so they could use it in their pipe benders and save cost on mandrel bending machines.

    I love the stuff.

    If I were into competition.......well then I guess I would look into DOM.
     
  16. May 30, 2006
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Might try looking at the bottom of the page too, there's a few links there. ;)
     
  17. May 30, 2006
    MCSCOTT

    MCSCOTT Member

    Columbia, Tn
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    I am in the business of selling both. I have sold a ton of pipe to offroaders who were building cages and have watched several rollovers where the pipe held up just fine. The DOM is stronger and lighter than pipe and would be the way I would prefer to go when building a cage. However, for the money, if you are not going to be in any end over end rolls, you would be fine with pipe. The main differences with it is that with DOM, you measure by the O.D. of the tube and most everyone uses .120 wall. Most people that buy pipe for cages either get 1-1/4", which is 1.66 O.D. with a .140 wall if its sch40 and 1-1/2" is 1.9 O.D. with .145 wall. You could argue the point of strength and safety all day long and even go higher than DOM tubing to get Chromolly and higher grades. Myself, I would use DOM strictly because it is easier to bend and the guy I know with the high dollar bender doesn't have mandrells for pipe.
     
  18. May 31, 2006
    Ghetto Fab.

    Ghetto Fab. Member

    Atascadero, Ca.
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    I think my next cage is going to be 2" solid roundstock titanium.R)
     
  19. May 31, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    You kno it could be worse... make a cage out of rebar :)

    Worst thing i ever saw was a lifted toyota truck with rebar traction bars. Oh man did i ever want to see that truck in action, i want to see them pretzel good :)
     
  20. May 31, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    That may have the PVC roll bar with padding on it beat :shock:
     
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