Tube / pipe identification

[jeff krause]

I have a good sized pile of round pipe/tube...... all intermixed..

Any easy way to eyeball the difference between a TUBE and a PIPE?

Just curious.....

Jeff

[xFallen]

I have a good sized pile of round pipe/tube...... all intermixed..

Any easy way to eyeball the difference between a TUBE and a PIPE?

Just curious.....

Jeff

Seriously, for your purposes, it comes down to measurements. There are other differences but I don't think they matter so much in this case and I am sure you know what they are anyway.

Pipe is sized acccording to nominal inside diameter. Tube is outside diameter. So, a 2" schedule 40 pipe is about .154" wall thickness according to my materials book making the OD about 2.375".

2" tubing will have a 2" OD and ID will be determined according to its wall thickness. Basically, nice round numbers for an OD will generally be tubing but I would not rely just on that. I would find a table for PIPE and anything that doesn;t measure according to that table call it pipe and the rest tube. :D

Maybe Brian, Hunter, Daryl or one of the other metal fab oriented types can shed some more light but that's been my understanding for many a year.


Barry

[Hunter]

Barry is right on. Pipes can vary all over the places in sizes and wall thickness. Tube sizes on the other hand are more structured. (well, at least I think so, but then again, I am bit warped)

The most common "normal" tube sizes are 2, 1.75, 1.5, 1.125. 1. There is 3/4 and half, but not used too much in the 4x4 world.

As far wall thickness goes, there are 2 excepted ways to describe what size. Gauge and Numerical. (sp?)

Here is a list of most common sizes that apply too regular folks

11 Gauge .120 (about 1/8th inch) heavy wall
13 Gauge .09-.095 medium wall
14 Gauge .083 (kinda rare)
16 Gauge .065 (about a 1/16 of ain inch) light wall

All of these wall sizes can apply to any size of tube. From 2' 16 Gauge to 1" .120 wall as example

[Marv Miller]

Found these specs for pipe on the web, sorry can't help with tube. These are geared more for our plumber friends, but might help...
(Couldn't resist) :)

1. All pipe is to be made of a long hole, surrounded by metal or plastic, centered around the hole.

2. All pipe is to be hollow throughout the entire length -- do not use holes of different length than the pipe.

3. The ID (Inside Diameter) of all pipe must not exceed their OD (Outside Diameter) -- otherwise the hole will be on the outside.

4. The pipe is supplied with nothing in the hole, so that water, steam or other stuff can be put inside at a later date.

5. All pipe is to be supplied without rust; this can be more readily applied at the job site. (NOTE: Some vendors are now able to supply pre-rusted pipes. If available in your area, this product is recommended as it will save a great deal of time at the job site.)

6. All pipe over 500ft (150m) in length should have the words "LONG PIPE" clearly painted on each side and end, so the contractor will know it's a long pipe.

7. Pipe over 2 miles (3.2km) in length must also have the words "LONG PIPE" painted in the middle so the contractor will not have to walk the entire length of the pipe to determine whether it is a long or short pipe.

8. All pipe over 6ft (1.83m) in diameter must have the words "LARGE PIPE" painted on it, so the contractor won't mistake it for a small pipe.

9. Flanges must be used on all pipe. Flanges must have holes from bolts that are quite separate from the big holes in the middle.

10. When ordering 90 or 30 degree elbows, be sure to specify left-hand or right-hand, otherwise you will end up going the wrong way.

11. Be sure to specify to your vendor whether you want level, uphill or downhill pipe. If you use downhill pipe for going uphill, the water will flow the wrong way.

12. All couplings should have either right-hand or left-hand threads, but do not mix the threads. Otherwise, as the coupling is being screwed on to one pipe, it is being unscrewed from the other.

13. All pipes shorter than 1/8in (3mm) are very uneconomical in use, requiring many joints. They are generally known as washers.

14. Joints in pipes for water must be watertight. Those pipes for compressed air, however, need only be airtight.

15. Lengths of pipes may be welded or soldered together. This method is not recommended for concrete or earthenware pipes.

16. Other commodities are often confused with pipes. These include; Conduit, Tube, Tunnel, and Drain. Use only genuine pipes.

[Az Bratt Pakk]

That good :)