Galvanized pipe for clamps. Save some $$$

I’m kind of a cheap-skate… lol. I’ll shop around until I find the price that I want (or one that’s at least reasonable) before I just buy buy buy…

That’s good info… thanks!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

I actually used the Black pipe they call for; not because I wanted to but because I happened to get it at cost so it ended up cheaper than galvanized at the big box store. Otherwise I would have been there too!

-- Chris

other than the paint or being galvanized, is there any difference in the two pipes quality wise ?

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

I bought a pipe clamp setup from Rockler and purchased a galvanized pipe (cheaper) to fit it up. The head screwed on just fine. The sliding/ locking mechanism would not fit the pipe. Got out the dial caliper, 1/64th or less too large. Went and bought black pipe, fit great. Go figure. It was a 4 foot galvanized pipe. I keep it handy in case I have to defend my refrigerator. bbqKing.

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

Galvanized is softer than Black pipe. The sliding clamp part will dig in, and create a ridge in the pipe. Then to complicate things, glue will get in the ridge. Then the slider wont move up and down easily, creating lots of frustration during a glue up.

-- Clamps are like dollars in the bank, you NEVER can have too many!

So, I wasted my money on the galv? I thought I’d read where folks were using it quite successfully.

Matt

-- - If you can't have fun doin' it, it aint worth doin' - Matt

Well, It CAN be used, but its just not as durable for the long haul.

I’ve offset the cost over the years. I just wait for the plumber to do gas lines in the houses I build, and then pay him to cut and thread a set.

I use them mostly for odd things now, and add extensions for the random long piece.

-- Clamps are like dollars in the bank, you NEVER can have too many!

I’ve got both black and galvanized and the black does work better. But saying that the galvanized pipe won’t react with your glue and make black spots….

Thanks for the tip about Lowe’s. I’ve unpacked most of the shop boxes and have four pipe clamps without pipes.

-- Chris

great way to save a buck.. no more stealing pipes from the basements of houses in foreclosure… ha ha

-- making sawdust....

I’ve done alright with both. I use the black ones more because they currently have nicer clamps attached to them. The galvanized pipes I have currently have knock off clamps. I should switch it around and give it a real test I suppose.

-- Jeff, South Carolina