Used Oilfield Pipe

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I'm looking at taking 2 7/8" and 2 3/8" used oilfield pipe and cutting the joints off and then inserting the 2 3/8" in side the 2 7/8" for short lengths to create a crude bearing.  The 2 7/8" would be fixed and the 2 3/8" would move/rotate inside it.    My understanding is that the Inner diameter of the 2 7/8" is 2.5".  If so, it should fit.   Has anyone tried this?Is the used oilfield pipe in good enough shape to use or is it full of holes and rust issues?   Apparently there are different grades and wall thicknesses...  Any recommendations as to what yo look out for?
Reply:Yes, they fit inside each other. Have built a couple of tables using the 2-pipe idea, including my current welding table. Weld 4" pieces of the larger tube to the table, the legs are built from the smaller pipe and fit comfortably inside the larger. Built a shooting bench the same way, wanted it heavy and solid, but also somewhat portable. Condition of the pipe depends on your supplier. Sometimes bent and rusty, but generally useable. Local supplier probably cringes when I show up and request particular sections from the middle of the stack, but they pull it for me anyway.  All the same price, I want good ones. My last purchase appeared to be unused. Clean, no marks or scrapes, and still had mfgr labels on it. Saving that batch for some special project. Hobbyist - At what point is a "hobby" out-of-control?
Reply:What are you planning to use it for?If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:A mounting system for solar panels which tracks the sun.  So the "bearing" has <180 degree travel and moves very sloooowly.
Reply:Do you have the plans on how to make the panels track the sun?
Reply:No plans.  I will make everything.  It will track the sun in two dimensions.
Reply:The fit may be too sloppy for your particular use. You may be able ti shim it with a sleeve though.
Reply:Interesting. Way back in the early 80's I had a friend that set up his panels to track in two dimensions. His didn't actually track the sun, just made prescribed movements every hour dictated by software. He had it set up for a seasonal schedule too. It really maximized his input, low effort on his part too. He ended up selling copies of his set up along with a maintenance schedule to several of the other folks in his remote area."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by BobThe fit may be too sloppy for your particular use. You may be able ti shim it with a sleeve though.
Reply:Limpet,You are building a tracking support.  That does not have to be a precision instrument, it just will point in the general direction of the sun and work OK.  No need to get too detailed and precise with it...a bit of slop will be just fine.  Good thick grease and you are good to go.  Some friends have both types of solar installations, some track, some are fixed and they all work just fine.
Reply:I have yet to purchase the oilfield pipe, but I'm contemplating how I will cut it.   I could use a plasma cutter, which will work fine for some of the cuts.  For others I'll need a more even, smooth cut.   I could use my Chop saw, but I was thinking a large pipe cutter might be better.   Has anyone tried cutting the oilfield pipe with something like this:http://www.harborfreight.com/no-3-pipe-cutter-5983.html
Reply:If you plan to cut it with a pipe cutter, do yourself a favor and buy a Rigid, stay away from chineese crap for hard work, it will only disappoint you.
Reply:Originally Posted by LimpetI was thinking if I can find some Nylon sheet, I could fold it around the 2 3/8" pipe and then insert it into the 2 7/8" pipe.   This would close the gap and could reduce the need for any type of grease.  But I can't really think of where I might find such sheets locallyhttp://www.tapplastics.com/product/p...dpe_sheets/410
Reply:I work for a company that installs solar panel systems. We shy away from steel when possible. Look into aluminum   were you can. It's much lighter and when your doing a large system you don't add lots of weight quickly. Weight and weight distribution is commonly overlooked in systems not professionally engineered.PROUD   AMERICAN