Any suitable off the shelf tube for 12mm ID crush tubes?

[CT]

Has anyone had luck finding off the shelf tube suitable for crush tubes to suit bolts around 12mm diameter? All I can find tends to be significantly larger ID than 12 or 14 mm and I'm hoping to avoid getting a few one off's machined up.

Cheers
Craig

[bubs]

I use 10NB Medium pipe for the crush tubes with my steering box kits, these use 12mm bolts.

Buddy

[CT]

Thanks mate. I did note a likely option around that size but from memory it was a thin wall. I'm chasing a 3 or 4 mm wall as it is for a pivot point with a shear load on my boat trailer.

Cheers
Craig

[awill4x4]

Try to base your bolts around Imperial sizes rather than Metric.
For example: If you wanted to use 1/2" bolts then you can use 5/8" X .058" or 3/4" X .120" or 7/8" X 0156" or 1" X .250"
Chrome Moly tubing is available in all the above sizes. (We use them to do exactly the same thing in race car fabrication)
Regards Andrew.

[awill4x4]

I forgot to say you can usually use the system for through tubes on 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 5/8" etc sizing in bolts.
Some sizes have a better range in tube sizes than others and one more thing you can get Chrome/Moly tubing in a wall thickness that is already suitable for running a tap through without having to drill it to size.
For example if you wanted to thread a tube to to suit 3/8" bolts then use 5/8" X .156". For 1/2" bolts use 3/4" X .156"
Other tube sizes for threading are also available.
Regards Andrew.

[Fakey]

Might sound a bit cheap but I think Land rover disco tie rods are about 12.5mm or 1/2" ID with a reasonably thick wall. I used them for steering box crush tubes on a 40 I had a few years ago.
Just a thought, I had them lying around in my junk pile

[CT]

Thanks Lads, Ended up with 20 mm NB pipe with 2.6mm wall and M20 bolts. Dead set overkill but thats pretty much typical for me.

Cheers
Craig