# Where can I buy transparent pvc pipe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637 "2005-10-30T22:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bzwilak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@bzwilak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bzwilak)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/1 "2005-10-30T22:15:17Z")
I would like to buy approx’ three feet of **transparent rigid** pvc pipe in a diameter range of 2 - 3 inches. (not to be mistaken with transparent _flexible tubing_, please) I have searched everywhere in town, that I can presume might carry such a thing, but I have had zero success!. I’ve tried Lowe’s, Home Depot, Menards, and several others. I thought maybe some of the pet stores would have what I want in the aquarium dept. Nope. I have also searched some craft stores. I’ve had no luck anywhere. I have seen various products that employ transparent plastic piping, so it apparently exists. However, I don’t want to buy a pre-manufactured product that I do not need, simply to “harvest” the piping. Any advice? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/2 "2005-10-30T22:18:15Z")
[Clear PVC pipe](http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/3 "2005-10-30T22:21:26Z")
Looking at the [prices](http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=129), though, it’s gonna cost you. ---
**Author:** ![bzwilak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@bzwilak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bzwilak)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/4 "2005-10-30T22:24:05Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > [Clear PVC pipe](http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/). Thanks, Q.E.D. That’s a great site, but it’s way out of my price range and they don’t sell by the foot. Min length they offer is 10 feet. Ouch. I had no idea this stuff would cost so much! ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/5 "2005-10-30T23:05:46Z")
McMaster Carr has an 8 foot piece of clear plastic pipe for $40.00 - 2in dia, or $91.00 for 3 inch. [http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.ASP?tab=find&context=psrchDtlLink&fasttrack=False&searchstring=49035K88](http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.ASP?tab=find&context=psrchDtlLink&fasttrack=False&searchstring=49035K88) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/6 "2005-10-30T23:11:42Z")
[Savko](http://www.savko.com/partlist.asp?pgid=4&ptid=18&pid=18) has 2" pipe for $6.08 per foot or 3" pipe for $12.54 per foot, five-foot minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/7 "2005-10-30T23:48:14Z")
[Us Plastics](http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=54&product%5Fid=16628) ---
**Author:** ![bzwilak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@bzwilak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bzwilak)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/8 "2005-10-30T23:54:10Z")
Why the heck does this stuff cost so friggin much? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/9 "2005-10-30T23:56:36Z")
> [@bzwilak](#): > > Why the heck does this stuff cost so friggin much? :eek: It’s to ensure that even home-made bongs are overpriced. Some kind of DEA/CIA conspiracy or something. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/10 "2005-10-31T00:34:21Z")
> [@bzwilak](#): > > I would like to buy approx’ three feet of **transparent rigid** pvc pipe in a diameter range of 2 - 3 inches. (not to be mistaken with transparent _flexible tubing_, please) How about Plexiglas, Lucite, and/or Lexan? Most local jobbers will sell it by the foot.! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/11 "2005-10-31T06:13:26Z")
TAP sells clear polycarbonate in 3" diameter for about $80 for 8 feet. If you go there, you might be able to buy shorter bits for around $15 a foot. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/12 "2005-10-31T07:34:40Z")
Anybody who builds milking parlors will be able to provide this. Go talk to your local dairy herd/farm supply store. ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/13 "2005-10-31T07:48:06Z")
I think it’s funny how most of these sites insist that they will only sell the pipes in 10-foot lengths. …then cut those in half, and will only ship 5-foot lengths. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/14 "2005-10-31T09:46:40Z")
> [@bzwilak](#): > > Why the heck does this stuff cost so friggin much? :eek: I am not totally sure, but I suspect that it is because to make it clear you must use very high purity polymers, and special additives. With a non-clear system you can use any old rubbish because it will get hidden by the colour or pigments added to colour it. Also clear plastics require no crystallinity to be present that might scatter light (many plastics are naturally crystalline to some extent). This might require special processing or formulation to prevent crystallization during processing. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-transparent-pvc-pipe/328637/15 "2005-10-31T10:23:40Z")
> [@Phnord Prephect](#): > > I think it’s funny how most of these sites insist that they will only sell the pipes in 10-foot lengths. > > …then cut those in half, and will only ship 5-foot lengths. 😕 Not hard to understand. These are made for the electrical/plumbing trade, which uses a standard 10 foot length for all conduit/pipe. But if they are going to ship them to you, they have to go thru carriers like UPS, Post Office, etc., and they all have a maximum package size of 5 feet. (They could ship them via a freight company, but the price for a couple pieces wuld be outrageous.)