Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> At 03:24 PM 3/6/2006, you wrote:
Original poster: "Mike" <mike.marcum@xxxxxxxxxxxx>I can imagine, I once went to a plumbing supply and got a 13-foot section of 12" id. Had a .35" wall and weighed close to 120 lbs, very awkward and difficult to move with 1 person. For those that love doing it acrylic I found some up to 650 x 2065mm (26x81" with .2" wall on this side of the pond) here, afraid to ask the price tho, prob 1k$+: http://www.gcip.co.uk/EP/materials/acrylic_rod_tube.htm. Now if one could find a US supplier that would be nice.
Does it need to be cast as a single tube, or can it have a seam along the length? Both are available, but the cast tube is much more expensive.
Most plastics fabrication places can make the welded seam configuration from a flat sheet, and, at a guess, it would be a lot less than $1K. The seam can be made almost invisible (solvent bonding, then polishing). There's also people who make tubes with a spiral seam (imagine wrapping a 1 ft diameter strip around a form).
Phone book under plastics fabrication will usually turn up a supplier or, at least, a referral to one who does the fabrication you need.
If you're in the Los Angeles area, send me an off-list email, and I'll put you in touch with someone who would almost certainly know where to get it done.