Telescoping tubes needed

Need help please in sourcing the following for an item I wish to make.

I need tubing that will be a sliding fit if possible, the inner and centre being the most critical as they will be locked when extended and telescoped for storage.

The outer tube is loose on the centre one, held in place by collars, thus allowing the other two to rotate whilst gripping it.

All dimensions as a guide only.

Inner tube - 16mmø

Centre tube - 19mmø

Outer tube - 22mmø

The above would be ideal, but failing sourcing the tube, I could make the inner & centre of the same tube and screw them together, and the hand grip tube of larger diameter with bushes, sources for this idea as well please.

Geoff - Thinking cap on.

What sort of precision - camping frame is rough old stuff, but telescopic.

Which material is required?

Depending what lengths of tube you need ... you might have a look for a decent [secondhand] camera tripod or monopod.

They are starting to appear at Car Boot Sales; because the casual Amateur now tends to use more compact kit, whilst the serious Amateurs and Professionals are drifting toward Carbon Fibre.

Who knows ... you may find something from Gitzo, Manfrotto, or Slik.

MichaelG.

Geoff -you have not given much away. All depends on how long you want to go and if there is a head load, 50cm is very different to 5m! Will assume Alluminium - low cost tube is welded so although the outside is smooth you can get an irregularity in the bore. Extruded tube gets around that but not quite so easy to get.

You can still buy imperial tube in inch sizes in 1/8" steps, at 18 SWG it wil always telescope but the more common 16SWG will not telescope. Turning down is not at all practical if you have much to do.

Metric tube is easy to get in 1mm or 2 mm wall, to ensure a fit you need to step 3mm or 5mm unless you have an assurance on the bore. I buy Ali from Aluminium Warehouse who have a very good range of tube and all other kinds of sections, sheet and plate. Their prices are keen too.

Billy.

Nhs crutches are a good sliding fit but you need a third piece to complete your job. Good luck.

Brian.

Hi there,

A firm of metal merchants, H. Rollett, used to include a range ot telescoping brass tubing in their catalogue. The diameters and wall thicknesses were chosen with telescoping applications in mind. The wall thicknesses were, as I remember it, quite light gauge.

I seem to remember their advertising in Model Engineer years ago but I have no idea whether they are still extant.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

That is the reason I asked which material,

Albion Alloys make an extensive range of slide fit tubes, I have a set from virtually nothing up to 10mm or more, all a sliding fit, one in the other.

Geoff
You give no inkling what they are for, material type
Bob

Most major tubeing suppliers Barrats comes to mind supply tube that telescope together for customers projects.

Paul

Thanks for all the quick responses.

Some of the sources mentioned just didn't enter my befuddled brain, brilliant!

Sorry about the description I gave, not very descriptive from reading it again, so here goes:

Lengths no more than 250mm, any material except soft aluminum, so the walking sticks/tripods type ideal.

Tolerances are not critical, but should not be sloppy. It's not a precision instrument, just a work horse to carry in the car.

The inner and center tubes are locked together when extended, with a small three gear head* attached to the end of the inner tube, the complete assembly being turned by a folding handle at opposite end, with the loose outer tube providing hand support, with a moderate turning force only being needed.

*The three gears are arranged in a triangular form ala geared bending rolls, the main (upper) gear being driven via the center tube, the other two being supported by the end plates and free to rotate on axles, the whole assembly itself free to rotate about the main gear, for ease of positioning.

This is the best description I'm capable of right now.

Geoff - Coffee time.

Edited By OuBallie on 10/08/2013 09:28:58

Edited By OuBallie on 10/08/2013 09:56:41

Geoff,

I can't immagine what function that fullfils as an Austin Seven accesory. Can you enlighten us?

Russell (one time owner of Austin 7 Ruby and Cambridge Specials)

Watch this space.

All will be revealed in due course, once I've sourced the required material.

The cunning device can be used on any vehicle built between the wars, and just after WWII, and possibly on later models.

Geoff - I love an intrigue

Oh, that's a shame, as posts often get lost over time. 1932 Austin 7 owner/operator

BobH

It's one of those windscreens you wipe by winding from side to side

Neil

BobH,

I will be doing a video and putting photos up, so don't dispair.

Neil,

0 for effort, must try harder!

It's a portable device that makes life so so much easier when needed.

Bib and tucker will be kept clean when in use.

Geoff - 1935 Austin Seven Ruby owner.

Ah! portable oil drip tray - essential for any pre-1960s car

Neil

Neil,

Wroong.

Back of the classroom for you I'm afraid.

Drip tray/s of some sort, however, are an absolute necessity, unless the greatest care is taken when putting bits back together again, but the latest technology in sealants does help no end though.

Having access to our usual collection of machine tools, does mean that mating surfaces can be made to come together as intended, thus reducing or even preventing incontinence.

Geoff - Still chasing carport leaks. I was too ^*#% mean on roofing overlaps!

I have resurrected this thread asking for any information on the header subject, to enlighten those who where asking what the tubes where for.

My neighbour paid me a visit last year, and I showed him my lack of progress in removing one of the old tyres from my Ruby wheel.
He was silent for a while, with that look that said he was trying to remember something.
After a while he said that he had found a box that contained something that may be of interest to me, it having been part of a deal he had made in purchasing 2nd hand mowers.
His business was lawn mowers.
I went with him to see what this box of tricks was and couldn't quite believe what I saw.
The instruction booklet was very tatty and fragile, so I said I would photocopy it before trying to sort out how it worked.
Took it home, copied the instructions and put the original away for safe keeping.

This is the box of parts that need assembling:

Is there a Sherlock Holmes in the Forum who can figure out how it works?

Geoff - We will need another Noah soon!

I see you have posed this question on some Austin 7 sites ? Still no clearer on how it is used But it may be easier if you lay the component out on another photo.