1 inch steel telescoping tubing shortage

[BMob675]

We use alot of 1 inch square telspar (telescoping) tubing and are having difficulties obtaining this material. Which will cause all sorts of problems. Does anyone know of any alternatives to 1 inch square telspar steel tubing? This could be a place that still has the material available, or an alternate material that can be used in its place.

Thanks

 

[racookpe1978]

What are your service conditions?

Load, temperature, corrosion duty, vibration, etc?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Telespar is corner-welded mechanical tubing, available in sizes that telescope nicely, plain or perforated every inch on all four sides. The primary source is Unistrut, but lots of suppliers claim to have access to it.

Note the spelling; perhaps you are just asking for the wrong stuff.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ornerynorsk]

If you use great quantities of it, say 5000 feet per year or more, just have a tube mill make your own. It does not need to be corner welded, but the weld needs to be skived post-weld. This is what we do, and you'll actually find that tube welded in the center of a flat has a more consistent dimensional geometry than corner-weld. You can also have them vary gauge thickness according to your exact need if you can commit to coil quantity, 40,000 lbs and up.

 

[MikeMech]

I have had similar problems with Telespar deliveries. Their local distributor tells me that Telespar waits until they have enough backorders and then schedules a run of the given size. With the current recession, that means longer times between runs of a given size. Basically, you get it when they feel like running it.

You might check out other Telespar distributors for stock if you are willing to pay freight from out of your region.

 

[BMob675]

Thanks for the help and suggestions so far. I did find out last week of my spelling error, also found a place that claims to sell the material, but there is a 5000 foot minimum.

As for duty cycle, the material would be used in mobiilty equipment (power scooters and wheelchairs). You can imagine, overall, a fairly lax duty cycle accordingly. Mostly indoor usage and little exposure to any corrosive elements. Granted it would still need to function in cold weather and could not be ruined by an unexpected rain shower.

MikeMech- That explains alot...that has been the impression we have gotten. The fab shop we get most of our steel parts from has not been able to get this material in like they used to be able to. Since it is very critical to what we make, we are just stepping in to try to find alternatives.

Thanks again.

 

[HDS]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#telescoping-tubing/=a8s33z

Mcmaster is quoting a 2 week lead time.

 

[racookpe1978]

Hmmmn.

I strongly suspect that "overuse" (over-stress or severe loads) are going to actually be more common in this application than you'd (logically) expect.

People will beat up (mis-use) the things closest at hand and most frequently used. Not just falls or heavy loads or two people sitting in the chair at the same time, but stupid things like a 16 year old jumping on the wheelchair and rolling down the driveway playing with "with friends" - Getting the chair stuck in an elevator and having the door squish it - and, of course, the safety interlock will fail at the exact wrong moment, Murphy's Law being what it is.

I'd plan on loads being two or three times what you's "expect" to have. Just because you plan on reasonable behavior by sensible people doesn't mean some lazy nitwit is going to try to hang three weeks worth of filled grocery bags on the handle and try to steer their way out of WalMart.

 

[unclesyd]

I don't know if this is the place you referenced, if not give them a call. I haven't dealt with them but have seen the product used in a similar product.

http://www.argylein.com/telescoping_tubing.html

 

[MikeMech]

BMob,

If you are still seeking a better source on this, try calling Tubular USA at 636-926-9000. They may be able to get you better lead times.