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Metal pipe vs. Pvc.

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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,679
so basicly, the build a jib cult is dead, and I need to start building another summer rail sometime soon. I have the choice of getting pvc or metal pipe. Which one slides faster? And if I do get metal pipe, can you sill drill through the top of it, just like pvc? and if its better to drill through the bottom, can someone post video or something showing how to drill through the bottom? If someone could answer these questions, that would be great
Mar 9 2010 12:37PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
PVC will slide faster but metal pipes are more realistic (you wont find a pvc rail in any decent funpark)
pvc is also cheaper and easier to obtain and mount...

metal pipes on the other hand make great rails, if you weld em together you can obtain a semi-pro rail, very similar to the ones you find in real funparks! (these are often designed and constructed by motivated freestylers who spend their spare time welding rails for their park, or at least thats the situation @ my mountain....)
Mar 9 2010 1:22PM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,679
yeah. I would like to make a metal rail, because i already have 3 pvc ones from past seasons. So can you just drill through the top of the metal to attach it to the wood, or is it better to drill from the underneath and up?
Mar 9 2010 3:44PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
PVC will break.
Mar 9 2010 4:10PM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 608
drill hole through piece of wood you are attaching PVC, and the PVC as well
put a bolt though the hole and PVC
put washer on each side holding it down
put a nut on the bolt.
Done

You cn just use regular screws too if you are feeling lazy, but thats how I'd do it
Mar 9 2010 4:22PM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,679
yeah, but how would you attach a washer inside the pvc?
Mar 9 2010 4:25PM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 608
Do it at the ends of the pipe where you can fit your hands, then just use regular screws in the middle, since they probably wont hold as well
Mar 9 2010 5:27PM
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JahJahBinks
Posts: 3567 - Karma: 460
But it wont though
Mar 9 2010 8:59PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
drilling holes through a metal pipe isn't gonna be easy;
get a column drill (or a column drillholder ,basically regular drill in a special setup....),
then fix your pipe underneath the drill (dont hold it just with your hands; the drill can suddenly jam if you shift it a little and wreck your shit ! )
then take a centering nail (something like a nail) and tap a small dent where you want to drill (just enough so the drill wont slip off the tube)
then start drilling very gently, take your time to let it drill through!
(maybe start off with a small drill and then drill it out with a bigger drill....)

or if you have a welder or have a neighbour or friend with one, weld your complete setup or if you definately want it mounted on a wooden frame, just weld some small plates to the bottom of the pipe and drill your bolts through those plates and attach em to the wood....

good luck and be carefull when drilling through metal! its not like wood, it can suddenly jam and fuck you up badly !
Mar 10 2010 8:09AM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,679
yeah, considering the super high price of steel pipe,
I'm just going to go with the pvc again. I think its better than the metal, because if you get a trick down on pvc, it will be easier to do on a slower sliding metal rail. Thanks for your help everyone
Mar 10 2010 3:08PM
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HalfandHalf
Posts: 1216 - Karma: 207
my pvc broke on my rail, but pvc is cheap so i just replaced it
get pvc much esier to work with
Mar 11 2010 3:07AM
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NWise
Posts: 129 - Karma: 14
PVC is much cheaper, and easier to make a decent rail out of, and if you don't like the first one go back and buy more PVC it's that easy. Metal is more difficult to work with but will certainly slide faster and last a lot longer.
Mar 11 2010 6:07PM
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