Nz Tube sizes

Is there anyone on here in christchurch new zealand, whats tube size did you use and where from, im wanting to make a full sheet size machine but struggling to find lenths long enough in the kit sizes

There have been a few threads on here from us Kiwis.

My dad built an LR3 recently using stainless 25.4mm x 2mm tube from Industrial Tube in Hamilton. For shipping you can get them to cut it down to a size that’ll go on a courier and it’ll end up cheaper.

NZ Steel and Tube was another option that seemed decent.

Ultimately you’ll probably need to be dealing with metal suppliers rather than Bunnings/Mitre10 so it’s a bit more legwork, but well worth it. If there’s a local steel supplier you could always give them a ring and explain what you’re looking for and if they have any suggestions. The stainless tube from Industrial Tube in Hamilton was dairy grade but with cosmetic blemishes from the welding, so basically a ‘byproduct’ so cheap for the size/weight/finish etc.

For my MPCNC build I used 25mm OD aluminium extrusion but that was from the before-times when 25.4mm wasn’t an option yet.

Also, as a word of warning, if you buy 25mm make sure you check the actual outer dimension before getting too caught up printing parts. Tons of places advertise 25mm tube that’s actually 25.4mm/1" nominal tube. There are also a bunch of tube standards that specify based on the internal diameter which can get confusing.

Sing out if you get stuck, I’m sure we can help.

Very late reply to this - but you can sign up for an account at Steel and Tube online, they cut to length and from memory last time I had steel delivered it was $15!

Check out this message in the lr4 thread:

Might help with your search. And make sure you source your tubes before you start printing :smiley: A lot of places claim something is 25mm but it’s 1". So make sure you have measured it before you start printing.

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I just finished my LR3 with this from Steel and Tube. You can setup a cash account and they delivered a 2.8m length to a residential property.

1x 2.8m and 2x 1.6m cut to length and delivered for NZ$87. The quality is great and looks fantastic…certainly much better than the crappy Bunnings galv tube which is similar price.

P0002737
25.4mm x 1.5mm (1in) Satin 400G AWBP Stainless Steel 304 Handrail Tube

https://portal.steelandtube.co.nz/25-4mm-x-1-5mm-1in-satin-400g-awbp-stainless-steel-p0002737

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$8NZDp/m is pretty nice!

I think I was forced to for food grade stainless 32mm for the BruteCNC which was a bit pricey!

Hi guys another NZder here trying to locate tubing for a lowrider build is struggling to find 29.5, 30 or 32mm the best I can find currently is 31.75mm stainless would this work?

Yeah, that’s what most people end up with. What wall thickness?

it’s got a 1.5mm wall thickness

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That should be ok. Is that from Steel and Tube? I think I’ve seen that a couple of places as stainless steel handrail tube.

I was gonna go silly and get 3mm wall galv steel pipe from Magellan Imports for the fun of it. There was also sdalu.co.nz but I don’t know anything about them beyond having googled it up.

yeah, I’m m getting in through steel and tube seems to be the most cost effective

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For stainless, yeah. For galv steel, Magellan Imports was $48 for 5.8m I think it was and in the past I’ve rocked up with a reciprocating saw and sweet talked them into letting me hack it into transportable lengths in their yard, which is nice.