Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Need large PVC pipe to build special drum set

I am a full time firefighter here in Connecticut. I go around to schools with a huge drum set, and talk about drugs. I want to build a huge drum set out of PVC. I need out side diameters to be-13", 14", 16" and 22". I want the bass drums to be 5 feet long. Thickness should be 3/16 to 1/4. I can't find out side dia. to be to the perfect inch. Who has these sizes. I saw one company with bright yellow. The cheap 40 will work which is white. It's the sizes I really am concerned about. Will someone please direct me to the right company? thank you, firefighter Tim Andrew ...you can check out my web site at-www.firepilotcentral.com. Also, if anyone is interested in what I want, check out-North Drums on the web. Thanks again. Happy New year to all.

firefighter Tim Andrew
The Drumman - Naugatuck, Connecticut
2006

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Look up PVC duct instead of PVC pipe, and the 14" and 16" sizes will be available. The others can be made by rolling sheet into a circle and butt welding the joint. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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2006

Hi Tim,

13, 14, 16 and 22 ... well, a series schedule pipe of l2" will be l2.750" O.D. You'd have to live with that.

Then, as Ted suggested, go and have a gander at PVC ducting where you can get l4" OD along with l6" OD but 22" ? I dunno... I doubt it.

I don't quite like the idea of rolling it from sheet. PVC is somewhat brittle, even moreso when welded or fused. But if you asked for high impact PVC sheet, ah, then I'd be happier.

Consider, too, going to Polyethylene ... you may not get the right sizes but it's virtually unbreakable (at ordinary temperatures).

Then I'd go and check the Yellow Pages for local thermoplastic fabricators and see if they can help you because normally the extruders/retail outlets will only supply 20 foot lengths.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).

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2006

Hi Tim,

I did reply earlier but I guess that it was electronically lost. This seems to happen to me.

13, 14, 16 and 22. Ah. l3 is easy. Use standard schedule l2" pipe (or l2" IPS ducting) = 12.750" OD.

As Ted said, you can get PVC ducting at l4" and l6" O.D.

For 22", I wouldn't use 'ordinary' PVC sheet. This could get quite brittle when formed, i.e., brittle at the weld.

Suggest you go to a local thermoplastic fabricator and see if you can get some high impact PVC (but must use a high impact weld rod). Something else ... normally the mfgrs. sell this ducting in 20' lengths ... the fabricator might well have some short lengths IF he's into ducting. That will save you some loot.

Another alternative is to go to Polyethylene. Extremely good on impact but I don't know if 22" is an O.D.size.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).

Thank you all for guiding me to the PVC companies. I am also looking for a company that can donate the PVC pipe, which I will make out of a huge drum set. As some of you know, I go around to schools talking about drugs, etc. This will be a huge awesome 12 pc. drum set, with 3 bass drums. I need 15 feet of 20" or 24" outside dia pvc; about 15 feet of 14", and about 15 feet of 16". The company that donates this will have their name on the front bass drums. You can go to my site to see the charity things I do. About 10 in all. www.firepilotcentral.com

Firefighter Tim Andrew
Drumman - Naugatuck, Connecticut
2006

Ed. note: we're confident that this is a worthy charitable effort, Tim, and we thank you for your efforts. But there are tens of thousands of worthy charities and this site would turn from a useful metal finishing resource to an rarely visited begathon within a month if we printed such notices. We printed your letter because it's a followup to your technical questions, but we're done.

After hours of searching, I have finally found another drummer who wants to build a drumset out of PVC pipe. I got the idea after reading an article on how to make octobans out of PVC and just took it further to making a whole drumset. I figured that all I'd have to do is find the right length and diameter pvc pipe, cut a bearing edge, and screw the hardware on, but its not that easy. If you get any more information on where to get the pvc pipe and materials, PLEASE let me know. The drumset I want to build is not going to be...well..."huge". I want a double bass pretty normal sized drumset with 24" basses and 8, 10, 12, and 14 inch toms with 6 6" octobans. Thanks.

J.C. Bryant
n/a - Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
2006

Thanks to all on the PVC info. Also what I'd like to do is have a plastic company make a mold of what looks like a funnel type drum (drum set). If you go to North Drums on the internet, you will see this type of drum. Which is out of business. I'd like the plastic used for kanoes, or those hard catch-alls that 55 gallon drums sit on. I feel that if a company wanted to make these type of drums again, they would do well.

Firefighter Tim Andrew
- Naugatuck, Connecticut
2006

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I found a site that has 14" through 24" O.D. sizes of pipe.
That exact outside diameter is very important to a drum. the seating of the head and the way the tension rods meet the lugs are effected by the O.D. you can also buy acrylic drum shells, but only in more-or-less standard sizes. I recently made a 15" snare drum by ordering a shell and hardware and then assembling it. I recommend leecustom.com for hardware like rims/lugs/T-rods, etc. 5 ft. long PVC bass drums are going to be pretty awesome looking! good luck.

Lewis Franti
- East lansing, MI. U.S.
2007

Ed. note: Yes, while these "even numbers" are not standard for "pipe", they are the standard dimensions for PVC exhaust ducting.