Was planning on using stainless pipe but pricing is pretty high, changed to looking at DOM but adding rust protection is holding me back. So my last option would be EMT and should be a valid solution.
When looking at EMT and I saw ridgid pipe which has the same OD as stainless (1.050) and was wondering if this would be a valid pipe to use and if it would add extra strength over EMT.
DOM is fine as long as you give it a wipe with some paste wax every now and then. DOM is generally the stiffer of the three choices. Rigid pipe is heavy.
My LowRider is hitting 7 months, and I haven’t waxed the steel at all. No rust. Unless you live in a very high humidity climate, or leave the machine exposed to the elements, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Consider that most tablesaws, bandsaws, lathes, sanders etc usually have cast iron tables, which will rust quite easily thank you and in mosgt shops don’t have too much trouble, there’s no reason why the iron tube for a CNC should show more trouble.
It’s not like a car which you drive out in the weather.
Coming from a ocean side town all things rust, on my lowrider all the bearings showed rust within 1 year. We are now far away from the ocean so hopefully my tools need a little less maintenance to protect them. Will give DOM a try but will add some wax.
What is the best source for DOM?
1.05 inches is the wrong size and won’t fit, regardless of what it’s made of.
You need OD of 25mm or 25.4 mm.