Tubing end caps?

[Mike P]

Anybody know of an online source for those cool little plastic, push-in end caps for steel tubing??

These are typically black plastic, about 1/2" thick that are sized for the size and gauge of the tubing. They're also available with threads to screw in an adjustable foot, too.

(I'm specifiically looking for 1" & 2" square, 16 ga. ones)

Thanks in advance,
Mike P

[gglines]

Mike:

McMaster-Carr carries them. Look on page 3478 and after on their online catalog. Or Google and you'll see lots of listings.

www.mcmaster.com

George

[Ries]

When I used to make furniture, I used to buy those things by the thousand. They arent actually that expensive that way- sometimes only 50 bucks or so, depending on size.
Anyway, the two companies I found that have the best selection were:
Alliance Plastics- http://store.allianceplastics.com/pages/company1.html
(I actually used to buy their products from pro-tec, which is a distributor-http://www.pro-tec.com/)
and the other big dog is Cap-Plugs
http://www.caplugs.com/

You would need to find the distributor nearest you, and talk to them. Usually about a 75 dollar minimum order, but you would probably get a lifetime supply for that. Lots of times they will send you free samples, as long as you sound like a real potential customer, and not a flake.

So if you really only need 2 or 3, Mcmaster Carr is a good bet- but if you need 50, its probably cheaper to buy 500. The economies of scale, and all that.....

[CCWKen]

Reid Tool Supply is my "hardware" store of choice. No minimum order and fast delivery.

www.reidtool.com

[Stepside]

Outwater Plastics. You will need to know the gauge of tubing you are using. They are also a lot easier to install when kept in a heated room. Comfortable temp, not hot. I install them with a "dead blow" hammer. The first 10,000 were fun but now I think of it as work.
They also have a good list of products such as "T-Molding" ect. for building furniture/display shelves.