tube/brake line vs. rod

[moron88]

why do you guys seem to prefer tube? other than weight i dont see any benefits, and even that is debatable. i have built a few chassis a couple few years ago and used rod with no issue. it's stronger, cheaper and from what i've been reading, it's far easier to find. i can get 6 or 8 foot lengths (brain fart at the moment, cant remember which) for about $5 and it can be easier to work with because you dont run the chance of blowing through it with MIG. one could argue ease of shaping, but then it's just as easy to bend when running. am i missing something?

 

[racin707]

Tube is lighter and if constructed right just as tough, most people go tube for that reason,and I think it hold a stronger bond when brazing,most people don't have a welder. I use a a tig welder and mix it up from rod and tube,I use allot of rod just cause I can run the hard wear shop and I use less of the rod cuz it's stronger, its the same debate as Chevy vs Ford

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[C*H*U*D]

... other than weight i dont see any benefits, and even that is debatable.

I've always used tube for the weight, but I'll be honest and say I don't know the exact savings.

As far as being easier to work with though, I'm not sure I agree. I silver solder so blowing through with a mig is not an issue. Even if I had a mig, I'd still silver solder since I like the way the joints turn out.

Most people are having a hard time finding tube because they are looking for brake line without the galvanizing. I don't like brake line, and use either 1010 from MSC or 4130 from McMaster...both places have plenty of it in stock and it shows up in a few days.

I've also never cared much about cost. Yes, the tubing I like to use is more expensive than brake line, but I think it's easier to work with and stronger. For the amounts used in the parts I've made, it comes out to be a difference of around $10. A chassis would obviously be more but I don't see it being much more than a case of beer for material.

In the end I think it comes down to which you feel better about using.

 

[Calderwood]

If you build a 2 pound chassis out of tube and a 2 pound chassis out of rod, the tube chassis can be made with more tube/triangulation which results in a stronger, stiffer, and generally superior design. Rod is the easy way to build that works ok with poor planning and design. A poorly built rod chassis is better than a poorly built tube chassis but when tube is used in an efficient manner, rod can't touch it.

 

[bob1961]

when I 1st started back in 08 with RC's and brazing I used the green coated stuff, then found un coated brake line and have had no issue's at all using it "thumbsup" ....

 

[moron88]

interesting. now gere's another question, what diameter do you guys prefer? i've heard of people using 1/4" and 3/16" but not much else. i get why (1/8" would require excessive amounts of bracing to get sufficient strength and 3/8" would eat up too much interior space and doesnt add any real strength gain considering the size of everything), just wondering what people prefer.

 

[1tuff40]

I use both 3/16 and 1/4" tube. Generally use 3/16" in the whole builds, but occasionally ill use 1/4" for sliders or maybe the B pillar tube on a ute tray.
I prefer using the same size tube in builds purely for the aesthetics of it.

 

[hbj069]

i use both, rod for structural integrity and tube for the rest. rod will always let you bend it at a tighter radius, Normally I layout the lower base and main cage bar with rod and use tube for the rest, best of both worlds"thumbsup" BTW 3/16th is all i ever use, did try some fencing wire once and worked pretty good after I figured out how to straighten it.

 

[doublej]

It's all preference and design really.
Both can be built light weight, strong and pleasing to the eye.

Until you start playing with metals like ally, CroMo, or Ti - every argument on strength and weight could last for days with no true winner.

 

[C*H*U*D]

...what diameter do you guys prefer?

It depends what scale you are building, and what you want the parts to look like. Generally I only use 3/16", but I have a larger 2.2 Jeep that I was building where I thought 1/4" looked better. It was also solid aluminum rod that was bolted together so the 1/4" worked better with all the drilling and tapping I had to do.

I do have a lot of 1/4" 1010 tube that I plan to use one day on a larger 1:6 scale some day.

 

[moron88]

i use both, rod for structural integrity and tube for the rest. rod will always let you bend it at a tighter radius, Normally I layout the lower base and main cage bar with rod and use tube for the rest, best of both worlds"thumbsup" BTW 3/16th is all i ever use, did try some fencing wire once and worked pretty good after I figured out how to straighten it.

awesome work man. i'd love to be able to do anything remotely that smooth.


thanks for all the answers guys.

 

[motomaster132003]

Cage looks great