Archer Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Does any of the forum gang have any experience with HDPE WHITE tubing for making arches? Since I'm getting into pixels I would like to start making my leaping arches using HDPE WHITE opaque tubing and many of the YouTube videos get their HDPE from McMaster Carr but I find them a tad high on prices. Anybody have other venders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Amazon lists 1" x 100' (ASIN: B000FMZ6D4 ) for $70 maybe a local group purchase and split? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 Thanks.....I'll look it up but I'll need several hundred feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I don't think this is stiff enough for a 100" (circumference) arch <jealous>I have 35' to work with, leaving the driveway clear.</jealous> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcroc Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Can't remember where I ordered mine from. Will have to look it up. I am in need of more. I got the info from the "Johnson Family Christmas" videos on youtube. I believe it was around $20 for 10'. Will post the link when I find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 I got my info from Johnson also and he got his from McMaster Carr. My arches will only be 20' from end to end but 5 of them means 100' (see how sharp I am). I have more than arches up my sleeve and I am teaming up with others to make a bulk purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 A few things.. First off, you don't want opaque. That means it blocks all light. You want it translucent, but I don't know anyone that sells it with that spec. Usually it is called out as white since it is high pressure pipe. I bought mine from McMaster Carr. I got the 2" version but you can use 1.5" most likely. I tried to attach a picture but as usual, if failed due to the ridiculous size limit I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 You are correct about translucent vs opaque. I didn't say what I was thinking. It was a senior moment. I know that McMaster Carr has it but I've got to believe somebody else carries it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibblejr Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 4 hours ago, plasmadrive said: A few things.. First off, you don't want opaque. That means it blocks all light. You want it translucent, but I don't know anyone that sells it with that spec. Usually it is called out as white since it is high pressure pipe. I bought mine from McMaster Carr. I got the 2" version but you can use 1.5" most likely. I tried to attach a picture but as usual, if failed due to the ridiculous size limit I think. Host your picture on Photobucket and then copy/ paste the "forum URL" here. Problem solved. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl Lambert Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I believe McMaster Carr buy's their HDPE from Hudson . I heard that if you buy direct from them you need to purchase 150 feet min. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I bought mine from Home Depot. Each arch is 10 feet long and made from 3/4 inch HDPE. Details on construction on this page: http://newburghlights.org/CCP_Arches.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 7 hours ago, Darryl Lambert said: I believe McMaster Carr buy's their HDPE from Hudson . I heard that if you buy direct from them you need to purchase 150 feet min. Thanks Darryl.....I've sent them a request for price and tech stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brichi Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) i ordered this exact tubing, did 8 arches out of 80 feet of tubing https://www.mcmaster.com/#50375K64 Edited February 20, 2017 by brichi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 4 minutes ago, brichi said: i ordered this exact tubing, did 8 arches out of 80 feet of tubing https://www.mcmaster.com/#50375K64 Was shipping reasonable? Did you purchase it in a coIL? Is it easily straightened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brichi Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 the shipping was I believe $70 to Long Island for me, it came in 1 big coil, easy to cut with hacksaw and kept the shape as i built them. For the last 1 i built the tube straightened out a little but i ran top through it, pulled the ends together in the shape i wanted and tied it for a few hours and the shape stayed the way i needed as i built the last one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 16 hours ago, Archer said: You are correct about translucent vs opaque. I didn't say what I was thinking. It was a senior moment. I know that McMaster Carr has it but I've got to believe somebody else carries it. I looked around but after a half hour of searching, I could not find what I wanted else where. For me, anything under 1 1/2" was too small. I opted for 2" and I am glad I did in the end. I personally think it looks better when lit and very sturdy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206383400664096&set=g.267415016664802&type=1&theater Edited February 20, 2017 by plasmadrive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl Lambert Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 HDPE is fairly rigid and because it's usually coiled when you receive it, it likes to stay that shape. I needed some pieces to be strait so I first had to slide a pipe inside the HDPE & left it in the sun to try to take the bend out of it. Archer if shipping is to high your propabaly close enough to them to drive there & pick it up. You'd need a truck though. The coil I got was 5 feet in diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I'll echo the issue of HDPE pipe wanting to remain in the coil shape. Five years ago I bought two 100 foot coils from Home Depot of one inch HDPE. It came as about a three foot diameter coil. I needed it straight for my project. I tried all kinds of things to straighten it out, and finally laid it out straight across the yard pulled under about 500 pounds of tension from a winch. Left it that way in the hot southern California summer sun for three months. When I released the tension, it went back to the three foot coil within ten minutes. Still sitting here - useless. Had to re-engineer the project.Sent from my Droid Turbo via Tapatalk, so blame any typos or spelling errors on Android Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 HA ha.. I just came up with something new on this subject (straight tubing). I will make one and see if it works out.. and get back to you guys, but I will start another thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brichi Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Definitely keep us posted if you can. Straight tubes are next on my lit to make an audio eq type effect out of like 10 tubesSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) I'll tell you my thoughts on straightening. I plan on connecting 10" stove pipe making a total of 22'. I will then cut a 20 foot length and slide it inside the stove pipe. Then I will place my propane torpedo heater at one end and crank it up. I once saw this method used to heat and bend composit deck boards to make designs on fancy decks.....why not try this method to take bends out? Before I try any of this...a quick call to the manufacturer will verify the temp needed to make it payable and ask if I am headed in the right direction. Edited February 20, 2017 by Archer Additional info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Ok.. I mocked up a test real quick and I am VERY happy with the results.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcroc Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Where did you get the coloplast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibblejr Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Dcroc said: Where did you get the coloplast? Here is a little secret that may help a lot of people get free coloplast. My in-laws own a gas station/ convenient store. You know those Pepsi and other promotion signs you see (2 for $). They are a little thicker than my singing face coloplast and they get thrown out after the specials are over. Also if there is a BP or probably other fuel station, their static signs are changed out about every 3-4 months, If you get in good with the owners perhaps you can get some to make your props. One side is always white and the other side displaying the promotion can always be painted. JR Edited February 21, 2017 by dibblejr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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