# Where to get some small concentric tubular shafts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878 "2008-08-13T18:52:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/1 "2008-08-13T18:52:04Z")
I need to get some smallish metal tubes that can fit inside one another. The biggest one should have an outside diameter of 1/4 inch (or thereabouts) and the middle one should be able to fit inside of that, and finally I need an even smaller shaft to fit inside the middle one. The smallest one can be solid. I’ve been poking around the catalogs at [McMaster.com](http://McMaster.com) and [smallparts.com](http://smallparts.com), but can’t really find what I need. McMaster has a whole section of tubular shafts but they’re all too big (and their smaller ones are all solid.) Anybody have any pointers? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/2 "2008-08-13T18:55:41Z")
Most hardware stores have a display of brass and aluminum tubes that might do what you want. Also, try a local hobby shop. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/3 "2008-08-13T19:07:07Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] Most hardware stores have a display of brass and aluminum tubes that might do what you want. Also, try a local hobby shop. [/QUOTE] As a matter of fact hobby stores were my very next place to look. I did find [this place](http://www.hobby-lobby.com/brasstube.htm) selling some 1/4-inch brass tubes, but they don’t list the inside diameters, so I don’t know how small my middle tube needs to be. Grrrr. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/4 "2008-08-13T19:39:13Z")
Most decent hardware stores and hobby shops I’ve been to have a [K & S Metal Center](http://www.ksmetals.com/retail.html). The K & S site doesn’t explicitly list the stock therein, but I’m reasonably certain it includes 1/4", 3/16", and 1/8" tubing of various sorts, which sounds like what you need. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/5 "2008-08-13T19:47:04Z")
[QUOTE=zut] Most decent hardware stores and hobby shops I’ve been to have a [K & S Metal Center](http://www.ksmetals.com/retail.html). The K & S site doesn’t explicitly list the stock therein, but I’m reasonably certain it includes 1/4", 3/16", and 1/8" tubing of various sorts, which sounds like what you need. [/QUOTE] Wahoo! They do indeed have a nifty [size chart](http://www.ksmetals.com/resources/cuttolength.pdf) (PDF) listing outside and inside diameters. This looks like exactly what I need. Thanks for the suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/6 "2008-08-13T19:55:41Z")
Yes, many if not all, of their brass tubing will nest inside the next larger size. Your problem is solved. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/7 "2008-08-14T01:37:32Z")
How about a car antenna? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-some-small-concentric-tubular-shafts/459878/8 "2008-08-14T02:07:36Z")
**Small Parts, Inc.** sells nesting round and square tubing in aluminum and brass. [http://www.smallparts.com/](http://www.smallparts.com/)