Question on making a handrail...

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I need to fabricate a handrail with 1 1/2 inch pipe, but the plans did not specify what gauge pipe,is schedule 40 good or can i use a thinner wall?. Another question is where on the web can i find 90 degree steel elbows and weldable brackets? the rail well be held against the wall and its for a shop stairway
Reply:www.kingmetals.com is one of the places to order stuff
Reply:King elbows are crap.  They are alright for small jobs, but if you have a lot to do they cause more work. Find some steel fittings.  http://handrail-fittings.sharpeprodu...pe-tube-elbowsSchedule 40 is std for pipe rail.  If you can using tubing it could be cheaper, depending on gauge.   You stated "pipe", however.
Reply:Just remember, 1 1/2" pipe and 1 1/2" tube are to different animals and are not the same size.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderKing elbows are crap.  They are alright for small jobs, but if you have a lot to do they cause more work. Find some steel fittings.  http://handrail-fittings.sharpeprodu...pe-tube-elbows.
Reply:Cdavid821.5 tube, 1.5 pipe, or UBS grip?UBS rail grip minimum is TS 1.5" x 1.5", or 1 1/4" pipe.  1 1/4" pipe is 1.660" O.D. just over 1 5/8".  I have built long yardage of 1 1/4" pipe rail, both with and without pickets. I made the mistake of using only schedule 40 twice. I now only used schedule 40 for structural conditions, which are few [posts & corners] and intermixed with schedule 10,90% of rail.You're building a hand rail  -  not a guard rail.The workability and cost between the two sizes is large.I regularly challenge specifications and material size on lowlevel projects because engineers/designers are often lax.Hope this helps  -  Opus
Reply:Been awhile since I've worked in an actual fab shop but I rememebr we used to used 1 5/8 O/D x (I think it was) .125  HSS. It was a lot cheaper, mind you that wasn't yesterday, more like 30 years ago so things might have changed.....Mike
Reply:I actually get the elbows from FW Webb plumbing supply in NH.MAKE SURE TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT! the prices change by about 35%...Last edited by WeldingMachine; 10-26-2012 at 06:12 AM.Reason: all phucked..Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Cdavid82  -  Too many acronyms.  I meant UBC [Unified Building Code] not UBS  -  Opus
Reply:Thanks Opus. I'm looking at adding a gripable rail for a customer. I'll have to price out what 1 1/4" sched. 10 will run me vs the 1 1/4" sched 40 I know my one supplier stocks. Any other suggestions of sizes to look at? Customer will want to keep this as inexpensive as possible I'm sure. It's for a kids tree house. I'll do a post on it later after I get a chance to grab all the measurements..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan