Thin Wall EMT Way and Bench Tubes

[tomsalwasser]

I'll call this my No-Pro Planer. It's been a fun learning experience. I've got 12 bucks into it. If it doesn't work out I've still got the old bench and way tubes. I'm very pleased with it so far. Thanks for the tip on the EMT JP! I think a Shopsmith frame makes a great mobile base for many shop tools and now I am on the prowl for an almost free dead Shopsmith or 2.

Photo Jan 12, 2 19 58 PM.jpg (666.45 KiB) Viewed 1795 times

[JPG]

It is not represented as a substitute for a way/bench tube for a 'working' machine, but rather adequate for a storage rack etc..

Yes it is 1 3/4" (-.010).

1 1/2" nominal EMT has a 1.61 id.

Yes that makes the wall close to 1/16".


I first encountered this with a 10ER being used as a lathe by a professional cabinet maker. He obtained it sans way tubes. IIRC he merely cut a 10' piece in half and used it that way. I questioned the stability and he said it was not a problem.

Now if this 'bothers' thee, go get a bunch of thicker walled 10 way tubes for your thin walled Mark V's way tubes.

[tomsalwasser]

If I ever saw a bench with EMT tubes you would have to give it to me to take off your hands.

Next time I was thinking of packing the EMT with concrete

[dusty]

Thanks ER. Here is what I bought: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Allied-Tube- ... /100400412

Here you can see it side by side: EMT/Bench/Way

Photo Jan 11, 6 43 13 PM.jpg

I think the view angle makes the EMT look larger. I assume it is 1 1/2" EMT.

If so it is very close to 1 3/4" od.

Make sure the plugs are long enough to be under the entire clamp.

It looks bigger because the wall is SO THIN. Is 1 1/2" EMT that size OD? If so how can it be 1 3/4" OD? It certainly does not look like that to me. BIG difference.

EMT is an electrical conduit. It is not designed for strength or dimensional integrity. Not even talking about the plating. I can not understand why you say this is a good thing to do no matter how short the bench is. Really confused.

Buy a set of tubes on eBay. yes a bit more expensive and then cut them to the size you want. If I ever saw a bench with EMT tubes you would have to give it to me to take off your hands.

Your position on the suitability of EMT as bench and way tubes is based entirely on opinion. Truth of the matter, we do not know just how much weight (downward force) is placed upon those tubes. What they really do is hold the two ends together. This is especially true of the shorties and minnies that are being discussed. NO, I would not build a Mark 7 using EMT and YES there is a chance that the EMT would sag under the weight of a headstock and table assembly and that is why I would not use it for an assembly. For these other applications, I seriously doubt that there will be even a hint of structural integrity failure.

As for collapsing a tube with the force from a "too tight" set screw........

Pretty--NO. Functional--YES. Reliable--YES

[oldiron]

If I ever saw a bench with EMT tubes you would have to give it to me to take off your hands.

Next time I was thinking of packing the EMT with concrete

Tom, If you do decide to pack the EMT with concrete, Purchase some Portland Cement and sand. Mix your batch and Don't use gravel...

Mike

[tomsalwasser]

Tom, If you do decide to pack the EMT with concrete, Purchase some Portland Cement and sand. Mix your batch and Don't use gravel...Mike

Thanks Mike! Do you think it would ever cure in the middle of the pipe?

[JPG]

Forget the sand and just call it grout.

It is a chemical reaction that does not require air to set.

I think it overkill!

[ERLover]

Mike, why not concrete? Portland cement, sand and agate? It is more structurally sound. Mortar, Portland cement and sand will break up even under vibration/lathe work. Granted Mortar is easier to mix and pack into the tubes, but will break down easier then a concrete mix. I would use the bagged 5000 mix, I think it has some fiberglass fibers and epoxy in it.

[tomsalwasser]

I think it overkill!

Might prevent sag on your ten foot SPT storage unit?

[JPG]

The monster storage rack is similar to the SS itself. The EMT are the 'bench' tubes which are in tension horizontally. Above them are 2 2x6 rails upon which the SPTs mount at a slightly higher elevation than SS way tubes and I believe them to be in compression horizontally.

There are two vertical separators that tie the tubes to the 2x6 creating three 'shorter' spans.

Thus three boxes interconnected.