Originally Posted by Tony H

Don't know if this is forum worthy but I got a good laugh over it. I am making some handrails for the house from cut, notched and welded water pipe. I like the look of the galvanized over painted and it get's dull rapidly. I found that I could make the returns at the ends from rigid conduit 90's by cutting and welding them. I have welded galvanized material before and am aware of the prep. I am going to smooth the welds and paint with cold galvanizing paint. I have done this before and it worked well. Sometime in the last 25 years galvanized water pipe became obsolete. I went to several supply houses and all they had were nipples. I calculated I needed 2-21' sticks. I was going to cut it into manageable lengths to get it home so I meticously measured so I would not waste any. Did some on line searching and found some at a plumbing supply in the bigger town near by. So I went there today as we were in town for a Dr appt. Drove to the location and there was only empty, abandoned buildings. Called the number (local) and asked the person where the physical store was. They said they were in Eugene (2.5 hrs away) and after a long time they said there was no location here. So I guess the old local phone number re directed to the corporate location. Now I am bummed and my plan is shot. As we are driving home I start noticing anything made of pipe and how to get it. I noticed a chain link fence and thought the top pipe woulod be nice as it was about the correct size. Then a light bulb went off and I realized I had 300' of unused chain link fence that was behind a wood fence in my back yard. As soon as I got home I measured the chain link pipe and it is exactly the same size as 1" water pipe. I have been thinking of removing the chain link fence for years as there is a 1' space between the fences that collects debris and lays against the wood fence. So check the physical location and don't assume. Also-look in your own back yard. BTW the water pipe was $92 a stick. Now I can afford more moped parts