1" or 1.5" EMT?

[barkingmad]

My Google-ninja skills are off today. I could have sworn that I read some recommendations about 1.5" EMT being preferred to 1" EMT. So help me, I can't find that thread.

I'm putting up a 12x25 shade cloth over my tent and plan on using one side of my car as a base. I didn't realize how much that cloth would sag. I think I'm going to need some middle/side supports as well.

So can y'all tell me which is playa-preferred -- 1" or 1.5"? The poles will be 7' in length.

EDIT: After posting this, I started looking for canopy fittings and foot pads for 1.5" EMT -- I don't see that size, only 1-3/8 and 1-5/8. Now I'm really confused. Is it acceptable for a 1.5" 7-foot piece of EMT to sit in a 1-5/8" foot pad and jiggle around a little? Doesn't sound right to me --

TIA!

[GreyCoyote]

The 1-3/8 and above are not EMT. They are fence rails and posts. At a 7 foot span, 1 inch will be fine. You have a support in the middle right??

[barkingmad]

GreyCoyote,

Thanks for the answer! I am going to have to have a support, I think, because it's too big and sags a lot in the middle. I haven't received my connectors yet, but I'm planned for a middle support.

I'm relieved about being able to use 1" EMT. The 1.5 is a lot bulkier, especially for a 5700 mile round trip drive.

Thanks for your advice!

[GreyCoyote]

Any reason you cant use standard 10 foot lengths of 1 inch EMT? Lots more space cor the same $!$

[barkingmad]

GC,

I have a hard time fitting the 10' sections into my car and find that the 7' sections do well.

Hmmm, maybe there's some sort of connector I could use to safely/securely join two sections of pipe? Then I could connect two 5-foot sections?

[FIGJAM]

1" EMT sleeves perfectly into 1&3/8" fence rail!!!

That's how I did the extensions on my playapod.

[GreyCoyote]

GC,

I have a hard time fitting the 10' sections into my car and find that the 7' sections do well.

Hmmm, maybe there's some sort of connector I could use to safely/securely join two sections of pipe? Then I could connect two 5-foot sections?

Bingo! Got ya. I knew I was missing something there.

Funny bit: I once watched a guy load 2x4s 12 feet long under his VW Bug. UNDER his Bug. For transport.

The roof was curved and had no anchor points, so he slid them UNDER the Bug, tied one end with twine to the hood handle in front, and the back to the two exhaust pipes. Five 2x4s per trip.

The punchline? He was building a house.

[barkingmad]

Hey, Figjam--

1" EMT sleeves perfectly into 1&3/8" fence rail!!! That's how I did the extensions on my playapod.

OK, I'm engineering-challenged!

What is an EMT sleeve?

You took, say, a 5-foot piece of 1" EMT and slid it into a 5-foot piece of 1-3/8" EMT? Total length is 10 feet?

Or was it an 8-ft piece of 1" EMT sitting inside a 2-ft piece of 1-3/8" EMT?

Just curious, too-- did you get the 1-3/8" EMT from a big box store?

(PS) I'm making your swamp cooler on Thursday, FIgjam. Standby for incoming questions! ;-}

[FIGJAM]

I wanted a 14' length for my shade and my trailer is 6' wide.

So I welded a 6' piece of 1&3/8" fence rail to the rack and slid a 7' piece of 1" electrical conduit into each end, giving me 14'.

[barkingmad]

I wanted a 14' length for my shade and my trailer is 6' wide.

So I welded a 6' piece of 1&3/8" fence rail to the rack and slid a 7' piece of 1" electrical conduit into each end, giving me 14'.

AHHH, now I understand. My brain was starting to hurt trying to figure it out, LOL.

I think I'll have to stick to flat corners and foot pads. Welding is above my pay grade for the moment.

Thanks for the explanation!

[FIGJAM]

No welding required.

Just use the fence rail as connectors/splints for your shorter pieces.