UHMW pipe sources (4.75-5" ID)

denzel

Or make it easy on yourself, and have a look where there are sewerage works, walk up to one of the guys working, and a carton of beer will go a long way... (the "denz solution" works for virtually anything. )

denz.

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Genesis

ROFL! Yeah, given that I only need a foot or so of it...... Beer is easy....

jradomski

Genesis,
Be careful when selecting UHMW stock, most stock is NOT UV stabilized, but the correct stock can be had...

__________________
Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

Genesis

I thought on the first page you just got done telling me that it wasn't available as pipe at all......

(Quite honestly, white PVC isn't UV-stabilized either. I have a shizload of it out in the sun daily at my home in pool pipe service under both vacuum and pressure, and some of it is 10 years old (installed in 1994). Its still fine; I've had to saw through some of it in the last year to replace equipment after a hurricane, and there was no sign of embrittlement or loss of integrity. Since I have no intention of leaving a rebreather out in the sun for 10 years continually, I'm not all that concerned about UV-stabilizers in the plastic....)

montyg

I have some HDPE lying around - outside diameter 160mm; inside diameter 131mm ( 5 inches = 127mm )

It's black, it's dirt cheap but it's located on the southern tip of Africa...

I'm happy to mail some to you - how long must it be?

rgds
monty

Duncan Price

Regular HDPE should be OK. I get my pipe from our workshops or the chemical engineering stores. Its all ex-water, gas or sewer pipe.

Sorry for the tardy response - I went caving at the weekend - real caving - on my hands and knees most of the time for 8 hours solid and I'm worn out.

jradomski

I have never seen it as a "normal" option.. virtually any plastic can be had in any form if you place a special order with the manufacturer.. custom diameters for pipes are usually extruded...

I was merely pointing out that if you get it from a souce that had left over check that its UV stabilized.. UHMW doesn't do as well as some other plastics in sunlight without the UV stabilization, and this IS life support gear..

Also if you are going to glue things to it make sure you get the right stuff.. Most glues do not stick to UHMW..

__________________
Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

Genesis

I have no intention of gluing anything to it - glue doesn't stick to that stuff well at all. If I MUST attach something to it with other than mechanical fasteners I will heat-weld it, which is the proper way to join that sort of pipe (assuming the "other thing" is likewise of the same material, of course.)

As for life support, yes; a far better strategy than worrying about UV-stabilization would appear to be just changing out the can plastic every couple of years. After all, it IS just a piece of pipe (all the "Fancy bits" will go in the machined endcaps.)

HBRB Bob

Try water pipe it comes in about the size you want, as well as bigger, and is usually aqua ( if you like aqua ), 20 foot pieces but I'll bet you could find some cut offs at an industrial or municipal plumbing place.