6101 vs. 6061 aluminum alloy pipes - ANSWERED Thanks everyone!

[sonambulo]

So I'm building a desk out pipe and kee klamps almost identical to this. I was originally planning to use galvanized piping because it's cheap and readily available but the lightness of aluminum is really appealing although the price [of 6061] is prohibitive. However I found a site selling 6101 alloy aluminum for a very reasonable price. Never heard of it before but they have a data sheet regarding the material.

The final desk is going to have a butcher block top across the top and I'd say no more than 100 lbs spread across the top at any given time (computer screens and sculpture supplies). Is 6101 alloy strong enough for a desk that is going to see constant use or am I better off going with the super-heavy steel?

 

[deadlyapp]

I'd say that you're perfectly fine using it for that amount of weight. The tensile and yield strength is really not too bad, 32 ksi and 28 ksi respectively.

It probably isn't the easiest for workability but it sounds like all you need to do is cut it.

 

[bonkers325]

100 lbs is nothing

you could stand 100lbs on a long cardboard tube...

 

[skyking]

The alloy itself is not as important as the condition. If it is in 0 condition, either is pretty soft.
Note that both your data sheets are for T6.

 

[Fenixgoon]

The alloy itself is not as important as the condition. If it is in 0 condition, either is pretty soft.
Note that both your data sheets are for T6.

even O-temper would probably fine, tbh. it's not like he's putting a whole lot of load on it. i think O-temper 6xxx is something like 10 or 20ksi yield strength.

 

[Kreon]

Yeah, that stuff will work just fine. Overkill actually. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference in those two pipe to be honest. If you're bench is going to fail, it will happen because of lateral stresses and likely go at the joints, meaning the grade of pipe you use is irrelevant.

Basically any pipe you get will work just fine. If you want to save on weight, try getting Schedule 80 pipe instead of Schedule 40.

If you are worried about cost, use Black Iron pipe.

 

[ArJuN]

Link to site? I need some in the near future.

 

[TridenT]

100 lbs is nothing

you could stand 100lbs on a long cardboard tube...

lol, but as soon as you apply any kind of force that is not in the Y direction(wobbling the table)... bye bye tube.

 

[JTsyo]

Pretty easy to calculate.

A= (Pi/4)(Douter^2-Dinner^2) *4 (assuming 4 legs)
str = yield * A

example:
A= (Pi/4)(.5^2-.45^2)*4 = .14915 in^2
str = 28ksi*.14915 in^2 = 4716.2 lb

 

[sonambulo]

Wow, I was not expecting such a fast and thorough response. Thanks to everyone who answered me in this thread!

Link to site? I need some in the near future.

It's actually from that same site for the data sheets linked in the OP. However there are other sites out there that sell small amounts in standard lengths at approximately the same price.

 

[skyking]

Wow, I was not expecting such a fast and thorough response. Thanks to everyone who answered me in this thread!



It's actually from that same site for the data sheets linked in the OP. However there are other sites out there that sell small amounts in standard lengths at approximately the same price.

Did you buy it yet? You can do much better than those prices at a local metal retail yard.

 

[sonambulo]

No, I haven't. Unfortunately I rely on Boston's public transportation system to get me everywhere I need to go so the markup is somewhat of a necessity.

Outside of bikes and boats there isn't much of a metal worker/fabricator 'scene' here from what I can tell so I'd have to get fairly far out of the city for materials. Any savings would be eaten up by car rental I'm afraid

 

[skyking]

wow that does indeed suck. This was the closest I could find.
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-...ocal_result&ct=image&resnum=2&ved=0CCQQnwIwAQ