Need help identifying something

[SmokinErb]

sI'm planning on building either a Octagonal or Hexagonal grow tent, the main problem I've seen with PVC is that it's not very supportive of weight.

What I'm trying to identify it's a long, thin metal. . . I suppose you could call it a rod, that has holes all down the middle of it, very similar to the pieces of an "erector set" (see photo)

I think these would be ideal for constructing a vert grow tent as it would be able to support the weight of lights, fans, filters, as well as the containers along the walls. I just need to identify the part so that I can order them as I live in a tiny town and I haven't seen them anywhere in the only hardware store.

 

[Baba Ku]

Hardware strap is very similar to the pieces of an erector set.
The stuff comes in rolls. It will not be a good material to support anything other than hanging from it. For a structural support, you need to have something other than flat strap. Angle, channel, tubing, etc...some sort of a conventional structural shape.

If you want to see some pro stuff that you could use, google 8020 inc.
It is the best that you could use to build your own structure of this nature, however it aint cheap, and you need to have a bit on the ball to figure our what all pieces you need to construct your project.
If you do use that stuff, be SURE to post up a thread. That would be a great one.

 

[SmokinErb]

Okay this is a 10-second MSPaint drawing of the bend in it, it's not flat like the erector set pieces, the bend is just enough to give it rigidity to be able to use it from any angle. I'll keep looking for something built out of it and post a picture of it if I can find one. They're all over the place, but when i'm looking for it, i can't seem to find it.

 

[SmokinErb]

Also, this is defintely not something that would come in a roll. It's about 1/8" thick steel or aluminum. It's not flexible.

 

[Baba Ku]

That shape would be called a channel. However, you probably won't find anything like that on any shelf. Yu may have seen something built out of this, maybe like a storage shelf or something, but it is not a common piece that you could just find. The company using such stuff probably press forms it for themselves.

Maybe you just feel like you see this stuff being used everywhere....can you show us something made of it?

Try going to a steel supplier website. You can see the shapes of structural materials available in all sorts of metallurgy. If they don't have it, is more than likely a custom piece like I was describing.

 

[Greenheart]

I've never used the site in this link but the guy in their logo appears to be holding what you describe. It may help.

http://www.everettsteel.com/steel.html

 

[Stress_test]

Perforated steel angle, used for hanging garage door openers, ducting and stuff.
Lowes, Home Depot, or big hardware outlets, costs about 7$ /3 ft piece.

 

[SmokinErb]

I'll probably just make do with something else. I've found a lot of those things stress_test is talking about, but it's not at a 90-degree bend. Either way, I'll probably just have to make do with what I CAN find.

The idea of what I'm trying to construct is basically a octagon/hexagon Colosseum, angle the shelves slightly, I've built one with wood before, but that was wasteful. I'd like to build something I can take apart and re-assemble but can support the weight of lights/filter/containers.

 

[SmokinErb]

Also, Baba, that 80/20 looks amazing, it's just... as you said.. expensive. Even that $7 for 3' stuff that stress_test was talking about is too pricey. I'll figure something out, got a little time until it all happens anyway, I'm on house arrest for a minute.

 

[Green lung]

Go to a lowes or home depot and go to the hardware section where they sell nuts bolts, nails, ect.

In that section is where they sell the sheet metal, alumuinim, rods, straps ect, iron rods, bars ect with holes without holes, small, big, ect.