8-Foot Connector Tubes

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:02 pm

I find that the 5 foot connector tubes are to short for some of my projects. I would like to have some 1 inch chrome or stainless pipe the correct thickness to make some 96 inch tubes for my 520. I did a couple of searches that yielded nothing. Does any one know of a source?

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:59 pm

Could you make do with some 1" EMT.

Not as pretty but might do the job.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:04 pm

1" EMT does do the job. I use it for setups where I want lengths other than those offered by Shopsmith. It is slightly smaller in diameter than the Shopsmith tubes but that does not seem to matter.

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:36 pm

dusty wrote:1" EMT does do the job. I use it for setups where I want lengths other than those offered by Shopsmith. It is slightly smaller in diameter than the Shopsmith tubes but that does not seem to matter.

What are the lengths that you use? Are they shorter or longer than 8'?

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:41 pm

Thanks guys I'll pick some up at Lowes. I didn't even think about EMT. I have some nice chrome closet rod but it is about 1 1/32 and just a bit to large.

tnerb · Post by **tnerb** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:20 pm

dusty wrote:1" EMT does do the job. I use it for setups where I want lengths other than those offered by Shopsmith. It is slightly smaller in diameter than the Shopsmith tubes but that does not seem to matter.

Hi Dusty, I'll bite.......... What is EMT and if it's slightly smaller, does the headstock and carriage still clamp tight enough?

Brent

rkh2 · Post by **rkh2** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:24 am

Brent

EMT is Electrical Metallic Tubing used in the electrical trade and is found in the electrical department where the conduit is in the big box stores (home depot, lowes). It is a thin wall version of galvanized rigid conduit and lighter weight. Used a bunch in commercial applications. Not sure about how it works with the SS. Dusty will have to answer that question.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:04 am

tnerb wrote:Hi Dusty, I'll bite.......... What is EMT and if it's slightly smaller, does the headstock and carriage still clamp tight enough?

Brent

Hi Brent, the 1" EMT wood knot be used for the headstock and carriage. They use it for the 510 and 520 table systems.

cornholio · Post by **cornholio** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:13 am

I bought a 17' length of steel tube with a virtually identical diameter as my shopsmith tubes from the local overhead door company for about $20 and made a pair of custom length tubes. The wall thickness is probably as thick or thicker than the stock tubes I just have to keep them waxed because they are not chrome or stainless like you want.

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:31 am

mbcabinetmaker wrote:Thanks guys I'll pick some up at Lowes. I didn't even think about EMT. I have some nice chrome closet rod but it is about 1 1/32 and just a bit to large.

When you buy it, take it out and roll it on the floor to see how straight it is. Some of it can have quite a curve which can cause some problems with table alignment. If you sort through the stack you can usually find some straight enough.