DC Ducting Sources

[Don L Johnson]

I'm trying to work up some comparison charts for my self and so far have McMaster-Carr, Kencraft Co., and Penn State as mail order sources. Does anyone have any other companies that they are fond of? Thanks

[glenn bradley]

Spiral, lock, welded? Just a bit more info please.

[Chris Padilla]

Metal? PVC? :)

[Jim Becker]

Oneida Air Systems

[Don L Johnson]

I was looking at metal; If the guage is thick enough, I would probably save money by not using spiral. As you can see by my "lack of full disclosure" that I'm in the beginning of the search. Oneida, I would assume, would be rather expensive...no??

[Jim Becker]

Oneida isn't necessarily "expensive" compared to other sources, especially when they offer free shipping for orders over a certain size. Their snap-lock is competitive. So are the large radius adjustable elbows. Laterals are more money, but really excellent quality. Kencraft may be less, perhaps. You want 26 gage or heavier, not 30 gage.

Don't discount spiral, however. Many folks have been able to find local fabricators that can supply spiral pipe that is strangely competitive in price to 26 gage snap lock. Get out the yellow pages and start dialing!

[glenn bradley]

Oneida, I would assume, would be rather expensive...no??

They have a quality product and it is priced accordingly. Many folks (myself included) went with PVC. I did my whole layout for under two hundred dollars and have a couple 10' sections left for additions. Here (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=106709&d=1231805904) is a picture of one of the runs. A branch was added after this shot.

[Edward Warren]

I have a question on gauge thickness. You mention not using as small as 30 gauge. Is this because it dents so easily or because it can collapse?

I am in the process of assembling my DC system. I've use one straight 30 gauge 5" pipe that's just over 4 feet long. It's well protected from getting dented, but should I be worried about collapse (hard to believe). I am using a grizzly single stage DC...a 2 or 3 horse I think.

[Joe Dowdy]

The 30 ga can fail under some conditions depends alot on the air flow but if thats all you used I would just slip a larger ga in shouldn't be much.

[Rick Potter]

The short version is.........I went to a HVAC supply house where the pro's go and got 10' lengths of 26 ga spiral pipe for about half of what seems to be the normal price. When I didn't use it all, they even let me return some.

Rick Potter

[Tom Wassack]

Greetings from North Carolina!
When I plumbed my shop I found I could save a substantial amount by purchasing from Spiral Manufacturing (http://www.spiralmfg.com/ (http://www.spiralmfg.com/)). They are the cheapest source I have found and have all the necessary fittings. They can custom make anything non-standard as well. Another popular source is Air Handling Systems (http://www.airhand.com/default.asp (http://www.airhand.com/default.asp)); however they are significantly higher. For example a 5 foot section of 6 inch spiral pipe (24 gauge) from Spiral Manufacturing is $11.36 and from Air Handling Systems it's $27.85. The only difference I could tell is the Air Handling Systems pipe is 22 gauge. I also checked Oneida (http://store.oneida-air.com/spiralpipe6x5.aspx) for their price - $18.08. Hope this helps!

Respectfully,
Tom Wassack
Asheboro, NC

[Don L Johnson]

Tom,

What kind of shipping did you have to pay? I looked at one place where they wanted $20+ to ship one 8" wye. Thanks,

[Tom Wassack]

Don,
Not sure of the exact shipping amount since it was early last year when I ordered. My order consisted of 6 pieces of 5-inch spiral, 6 6-inch long-radius stamped elbows, several 6X5X5 tapered reducing laterals and connectors for the spiral pipe. The total UPS ground shipping for 2 cartons was between $25 & $35. All the pipe was in one heavy cardboard box and the remainder in another. A call to Spiral Manufacturing should give you an estimate on the shipping costs. In case your wondering why no 6-inch pipe was ordered, a neighbor gave me more than 200 feet of 6-inch spiral from a knitting plant. This prompted me to plumb my whole system with spiral pipe. By the way, the prices I gave in my previous post are as of 3/4/09!

Respectfully,
Tom Wassack
Asheboro, NC

[Andy McCormick]

What state are you in? I know a place in Indianapolis called Indiana Supply carries spiral duct. Andy

[Don L Johnson]

I'm in San Antonio, TX. I've yellow paged searched and googled the area, but haven't found a source in the area. I may be searching under the wrong title/name/product. There's a ton of AC/Heating companies, but I was hoping for a direct source for the spiral pipe.

[John Dorough]

Tom,

I went to the Spiral Manufacturing link and could find no prices listed. Is there such a list, and where might I find it?

Thanks,

John

[Tom Wassack]

John,
I have never found their prices online; however, a call to their 800 number will yield prices and something not found much anymore - good customer service.

Respectfully,
Tom Wassack
Asheboro, NC