I am looking into fabbing up some custom parts for my jeep(roll cages, etc). However I am having a heck of a time finding someone who sells seamless steel tubing. 1/8inch thick and 2 inches in diameter is what im kind of looking for, but would like a selection to choose from. Anyone know a distro of this type of steel? thanks!


EDIT<changed the thinkness to 1/8, dunnon what I was thinking when i wrote 1/16>

 

Why is seamless so important in your search?
Seamed or seamless the integrity of the pipe is equal around it's cicumference or there would be no market for it.
The two most important rules for manufacturing pipe are: - must withstand pressure
- must have continuous hole from end to
end

 

Any steel distributor should be able to get it, if I were in your shoes I would be looking at .120 wall DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubing for a roll cage.

 

Try S&W racecars. There are in Spring City PA if I remember right. Should have everything you need.

 

Do you have one of those high end tube benders already?

 

I wonder how the larger electrical conduit tubing from Home Depot would hold up for building cages etc? Seems pretty thick compared to exhaust pipe thats for sure...

 

electrical conduit is frail. not the stuff u wanna build roll cage out of.

 

1/16 wall thickness is pretty light. I wouldn't want anything that light in anything critical.

They make something like that but my local suppliers don't stock it as there is no call. It's only Schedule 5. Go here and you can see a listing of what is available:
hxxp://www.maselmon.com/Content.aspx?ContentID=24

 

I'm lookin for the same kinda thing, but stock we lots of sizes & shapes of steel at my work & i have access to it, just not the size im after. We will be ordering some for 'engineering projects' though I think.
It also may be easier to find 2"OD x 11ga (0.120) instead of 1/8"

I would suggest trying any of the following shops listed as fab or machine shops in the phone book.
I googled it, and found:
hxxp://www.fabshopweb.com/shopsA2Z/PAm2z.htm#york


I dont remember York being that industrial when i was there, but I was pretty 'sheltered' i guess.

 

Yep, walldo is correct on what you're looking for. It'll run a couple $'s more per foot over welded seem tubing but if you are building a cage, it being built to protect your life and you don't want to skimp. And a little FYI, if I remember correctly most sanctioning bodies like SCCA only require 1 3/4 .120 DOM for roll cages.

DOM tubing: Roll cages and suspension links.

Welded seam tubing: Bumpers, brush guards, and other things similar. (DOM still being best but welded seam much cheaper)

Conduit: keep it on your walls and in the ground for wiring.

Pipe: You could use it for bumpers and brush guards but I'd rather use welded seam.

And for about $600 you can get a bender that works great. You'd have to spend $7-10k to get a bender that could do a nicer job (Mandrel bender)