How to stiffen 1/2" aluminum tube?

[mike31154]

That's definitely a wimpy looking piece of tube to be hanging 18 lbs or so near the end. Aluminum really isn't the best choice for something like this. Since you've already bent some up, have you tried hanging something close to 18 lbs to it to see what happens?

Not sure bending steel inside the alu will work all that well either. My guess (guess only) is that the aluminum outer will get crushed or deformed by the extra force required to bend the steel inside? That will ruin the look for sure.

My fixture hangs from the ceiling on spring wound retractable pulleys. Industrial, yes, but functional since it makes raising & lowering the fixture for maintenance a snap.

[Reef Pilot]

Or if you want something really strong (but still small diameter) you could use 4130 chrome moly steel tube (also a common item at metal shops). We use that to hang 400 lb engines on the front of a firewall. You won't bend it though, but a good tig welder can do a nice job for you.

[Myka]

Thanks for all your input guys. I think I done screwing around with it though, and I'm just going to hang it from the ceiling. I'll have to go play in the attic...

[sphelps]

You give up too easily. Take some some of that extra aluminum tube and cope in a knee brace on each support, rivet it in for a clean look. A knee brace deceases L which is cubed in the formula I posted previously, or in other words it's the most important variable.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by sphelps

You give up too easily. Take some some of that extra aluminum tube and cope in a knee brace on each support, rivet it in for a clean look. A knee brace deceases L which is cubed in the formula I posted previously, or in other words it's the most important variable.

I don't have a rivet thingy. I Googled "aluminum tube knee brace" and I got medical equipment. Do you mean like the pic I posted above?

[intarsiabox]

Google "structural knee brace" and you will have your answer.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

Google "structural knee brace" and you will have your answer.

:thumbs: Ah ok, yeah we were talking about this sort of thing already. I'm not sure I could make it look pretty. I'm a woodworker, not a metalworker.