Thread: Sizing for one square steel section inside another

Hi all,

I'm looking at making some exercise equipment and part of this requires one piece of square section to slide inside another, in order to increase and decrease length.

I was wondering what sizes and thicknesses to use for the inside and outside pieces so that the inner piece will slide inside the other without too much movement. Normally exercise equipment uses about a 50mm steel SHS.

On a US web site, they recommended using 16gauge steel, 2 inch for outside, 1-3/4 for the inside. However it doesn't look like 45mm SHS (the equivalant to 1-3/4inch) is available in australia.

Hopefully this is clear. Any help is appreciated,

Thanks,
Jeremy

It is best to go to a steel supplier. They have short off cuts that you can try to get the bits you want. Normally most sizes fit but you need to get the right wall thickness to reduce the clerance. Hope you understand.

Goodluck and show us some pictures as you go.

cheers

Try This
Telescoping steel sizes

http://www.seniorsteel.com.au/files/...ng%20Chart.PDF

Between the 40 & 50 mm sizes tack in strips of 3mm flat onto the 40mm section. It works well if the visual appearance does bother you. Drill regular spaced holes -say 6mm diameter and fill with electrode or mig. The pain in the bum is the flash bead inside the 50mm section from the welding process.

Grahame