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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

pipe trusses

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Comfortking

12-29-2005 19:42:07




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I am going to add a lean-to on the side of one of my sheds. I want to add 24 foot. I have a bunch of six inch ID pipe with quarter inch walls. Pipe came off of a high pressure fuel line. I thinking of using it for post and for the rafters. I would weld the rafter to the pipe post and then bolt the other end to the wood post of the existing building. Will this pipe be strong enough to span 24 feet spaced on 9 foot centers, this is the spread of the post on building. All of the pole barns around here have the trusses on 8 or 9 foot centers. Anyone have a guess if this will work?

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RodInNS

12-30-2005 10:06:02




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
Hmmmm. I'm sure there's probably a point at which you could install enough pipe to make this safe, but I'd be uncomfortable with what you're describing. That seems like a lot of unsupported span for a rafter. If you were talking about a structural webbed truss, that would be one thing. Why not trade some pipe for .... 10" "I" beam, and then use the pipe for posts. Pipe works well where the member is in linear compression. It will bear a tremendous amount of weight standing on end. I would also put a row of posts along the other wall to carry the shed roof rather than attach to the existing building. You're dealing with a massive amount of weight there to support entirely off another wall. You need to remember that pipe is simply not a structure that is made to carry weight horizontally. An I beam will allow far more load carrying capacity with far less weight. Just think for a minute about a length of steel flat bar.... say 1/8" thick by 4" wide. If you lay that strip on the floor, you can bend that length in a circle by hand. Now, turn that length on edge, and then try to bend it like that. There, you have the benifit of 4" thick steel in load bearing ability. Steel buildings rely a lot more on "engineering" to gain strength than simply a brute amount of material.
The other consideration I would have in using that pipe for a rafter would be the strength of the joint on the post.... I think it would be difficult to make a joint strong enough to carry the weight. All in all, I'm sure you could make this work..... but the point of the first reply was that the strength to weight ratio for pipe in this application is poor..... although there is probably a point where it would be safe. I just wouldn't want to guestimate where that point is at. FWIW,

Rod

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Joe MD

12-30-2005 07:29:51




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
Are you going to throw a welder on something that recently had fuel in it?



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4010guy

12-30-2005 08:06:24




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Joe MD, 12-30-2005 07:29:51  
you wont beleave this but i have seen men weld paches on crud oil tanks,full---the man said as long as you know what you are doing its ok--another man torched up old gas and disel bulk tanks--waited till it was 20 to 30 below,never had one blow yet--not me! lol



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Mark - IN.

12-30-2005 07:15:27




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
Vertical, I don't know why it wouldn't. That's pretty big pipe. I would be concerned though holding up the shed side by only fastening it to the shed, if I'm reading you correctly. Yep, I'd absolutely fasten it to the shed, but I'd have vertical supports under that edge too. A lot of people don't think about that weight being supported when they build decks, porches, etc, and is usually the first place of failure when those horizontal lag bolts (whatever) fail or pull loose from stress, then collapses at that point.

Just be careful, spend a couple more $$$, and support that edge too. Might save your equipment and life down the road.

6" pipe for vertical supports? Man, wished I'd had that problem when I built the barn. Might've even filled them with sand and capped them off.

Mark

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dan hill

12-30-2005 01:35:13




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
Lincoln electric published info on steel trusses.Farm arc welding by Morford was one.I buy all Lincoln books I find,they are fast sellers.



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old

12-29-2005 20:51:01




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
I can't say yes or no on that but if you have a tractor with a loader you could take a 10 foot piece and put it on blocks say a foot tall. Then take the loader and lift the front of your tractor off the ground. If it holds the tractor up and the tractor is say 5000lbs then I would say you could use it.



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farmermatt

12-29-2005 20:48:55




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
Contrary to the post below, pipe can be and is used for trusses. Pipe has a load rating just as wood or I beam does. Some engineering will be required though. Could be as simple as finding the right book with load specs and be a good welder. Here in NE KS a builder has put up many building with pipe trusses. Local pipe plant has been a good source for new pipe. Problem with salvage or "seconds" pipe would be consistent quality free from any defects. In a location that isnt subject to building codes im sure a person could fabricate their own. If codes are to be met, welding would probably have to be done by "certified" welders. Personally I wouldnt be afraid to build em myself. Im sure some will call me wreckless but I do have enough sense and resources to make it work.

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msb

12-29-2005 20:15:48




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to Comfortking, 12-29-2005 19:42:07  
You might want to consider selling the pipe to a scrap iron dealer and buying properly engineered trusses made for the job.Round pipe doesn't support a rafter load like that very well.



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bil b va

12-30-2005 06:47:59




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to msb, 12-29-2005 20:15:48  

depends on the schedule of pipe . schedule 80 or 120 would be alot stronger than schedule 40 (water pipe )



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Bus Driver

12-30-2005 05:32:26




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 Re: pipe trusses in reply to msb, 12-29-2005 20:15:48  
I agree with msb. Pipe makes an excellent column (vertical post). But the strength-to-weight ratio of pipe used as beams (horizontal) is very poor. Other structural shapes are much better for rafters and trusses.



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