What tubing to use?

[curry.style]

What are all you guys building custom frames and modifying existing ones using for tubing? I've heard to use everything from electrical conduit to automotive exhaust tubing. Now I wanna hear it from the rat crowd...what works best? I'm also concerned about the strength to weight ratio.

 

[Dorian]

Elecrical conduit is made for unstressed wire routing, not for bicycle frames. Mild steel tube with a .065 wall is strong and easy to work with, weld it right and it wont let you down.

Dorian

 

[curry.style]

Thanks. I was pretty sure conduit would not hold up well in a load bearing situation. Where do you buy your tubing from?

 

[deven_science]

Dorian hit the nail on the head for me, as well. I buy .065 steel tubing from a local steel supply yard. I buy ten foot sticks of several sizes, so I always have the right size (or pretty close) on hand.

 

[largek9]

I always thought welding conduit or galvanized type was on the toxic? :?

 

[Voyager Al]

I wouldnt make a complete bike out of conduit, BUT.....my recumbent 2 lower tubes are 1" conduit, and it has held up fine.As long as ya have 1 supporting piece of real steel tubing, theres nothing wrong with conduit. It flexes, so its only as strong as the welds.JMHO
and largek9, yes, very toxic. I only weld it outside.