wall thickness for pylon or monkey bar/tower tube

williemon 08-19-2003, 9:11 PM

Im going to build either a pylon, monkey bar or simple tower for my I/O. Im looking to use aluminum or stainless tubeing. As I check prices for this stuff, what wall thickness for the tubeing should I look for and what diameter tubes?

(monstertower) · (monstertower) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 08-19-2003, 9:30 PM

Check out www.diyTower.com for some great technical links. It will be easiest to get Schedule 40 Aluminim Pipe and any local supplier of alumimum pipe can set you up.

Depending on if you use stainless or aluminum, the wall thickness will be between .060 and .188. The stainless will be thinner but heavier than the equivilent strength of 6063-T54 or 6061-T6 aluminim. Post pic's of your new tower!

(monstertower) · (monstertower) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 08-19-2003, 9:38 PM

OK, You got me on a technical rant now!

There are two parameters which are called Moment of Inertia and Section Modulus that define how well a beam can carry a load and how well it can resolve stresses. Both favor larger diamter tubing (taller beams) by an exponential factor, so go with larger diameter first, then greater wall thickness.

Professor Bill

(Message edited by MonsterTower on August 19, 2003)

williemon 08-20-2003, 1:57 PM

Thanks for the info. Im probably going to go with a pylon or monkey bar just for simplicity. Then, as the mood strikes, add support bars for the rear and front.