SCH40 Home Depot Black Iron Plumbing Pipe

Adrian

Home Depot Black Iron Plumbing Pipe. I know Home Depot is not the only source for SCH40 plumbing pipe, but that's where I used to buy mine (Until I found a local steel supplier). I've been working with HD's SCH40 plumbing pipe for the last couple of years and have built many things with it (the PsychoKart, a minibike, a snowplow, an air distribution system, the buggy/sandrail, etc).

As for prices, I think I paid around $8.95 for 10' of 1/2, $10.95 for 10' of 3/4, and $12.95 for 10' of 1" SCH40 pipe at homedepot a few years ago. The prices may have gone up in general since.

Pros:

Very cheap.
Machines very well.
TIG Welds very nicely.
Easy to bend with cheap hydrolic benders.
Very strong, and easy to work with.

Cons:

SCH40 pipe is thick wall, so it's very heavy.
The Black coating should be removed.
Some pipe I bought was very dirty. Wear gloves when handling it.
Only seem to be available in 10' or smaller lengths at the hardware store(s).
The ends of the pipe usually have un-needed threads that you'll probably want to cut off before using (Unless you plan on mounting a spicket to your project Smile

)

It's very easy to work with and machines very nicely. Notching the SCH40 on a bridgeport with cheap HSS endmills is a breeze:

Pictures of initial 1" SCH40 buggy frame:

Finished pictures:

-Adrian

Fishy Jim · Guest Local time: 3:01 PM

Raw steel is always dirty Adrian... You'd get laughed at good by my steel yard guys.

They all know my deal when I go in before work (company car, slacks, polo shirt) and can't get grubby, but they've also seen me in grubbies with no hesitation to grab a 21' stick and hike it across the yard to the saw shop. No one sweats it when I say I need it shrink wrapped either, but you should see them when a guy comes in with a list of what he needs and no clue what any of it is. Now that's funny! Initiation to the working world is cruel and unusual punishment to some suits. Mr. Green

Adrian · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject:

Fishy Jim · Guest Local time: 3:01 PM

Still...

It's not like it comes in the little baggies. I would fully expect anything sitting in a rack to be somewhat dirty. Coated or not.

Look at the inside of one of your computers. It's dirty too isn't it? Wink

Working with steel ain't exactly white collar ya know. Mr. Green

Adrian · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:22 pm Post subject:

I found it annoying having black dirty hands while trying to take my wallet out at the Home Depot cash register. Sorry, I guess I should always have a pair of gloves with me.

For everybody else that takes a ride to home depot or best buy, bring a pair of gloves because I found that some of the SCH40 pipe was filthy, and apparently computers are dusty.

-Adrian

Wirecutter · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject:

wonderer · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

Adrian,

Nice design on the rail Very Happy

, You design it yourself or build it from plans you bought ?

wonderer

Adrian · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:51 am Post subject:

Hi Wonderer,

I designed it as I was building it. I made several design changes as I was building the suspension. I wish I made the frame about 18" longer so I could have enough room for a reverse gear box.

Adrian

mattc · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:29 pm Post subject:

it also doesn't hurt to have something to put over the seats especially if you are driving the wifes car Shocked