Anyone Framed a Pole Barn with Steel Pipe?

[cdhd2001]

Has anyone framed a pole barn with steel pipe? I was contemplating the idea of using steel pipe to build the poles and trusses of the building, then finishing with 2x6 wood purlins.

My father built one 30 years ago at his previous property. 20' x 36' with a 12' lean to. IIRC, the posts were 6" sch 40 and the trusses were 2 3/8" drill tube.

This idea came about after talking with my local metal & metal building supplier about kit buildings. The owner was telling me about a few buildings they built using 3 1/2" pipe as the poles.

Costs of this "hybrid" steel & wood concept is slightly higher than all wood, but considerably cheaper than the full blown metal kit buildings.

Any thoughts?

 

[BayouMan]

Not sure that what my brother is doing will stand the thoughts of this forum, but he is building a 30' x 50' barn on his property in Arkansas with 2" pipe. He made his trusses out of 2" and his support poles are 2" with diagonal braces. I don't have a picture at this moment to show how he is doing it, but when I was there during Thanksgiving, it sure seemed to be solid with his roof purlins in place.

Mike

 

[srossman]

do a search on the project forum for a user by the name of wroughtn_harv. He has done a good number of what appear to me to be metal pole barns, and they always turn out looking amazing. He was also working on a bolt together system If I remember correctly.

-Scot

 

[rambler]

Just stay south of the snow line, we got to be a tad more exact on the strength of things up here where the snow never melts.

Always amazes me when I see a shed from the south, nice looking, but such weak members.....

--->Paul

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I put up a small 12x14 woodshed a few years ago using 2-1/2" pipe. I welded plates on the top of the pipes to attach a 4X6 beams. Stacked firewood under it. I plan on closing in 3 side to store stuff in now. The plan is to bolt 2x4's to the pipe so I can attach siding to it. Id love to build a larger building if I can get my hands on some 4" or larger pipe.

M.D.

 

[mikim]

If you go to "projects" and search for "txdon" you'll find a thread that he did with pics ..he used some connectors from w-harv.

 

[EddieWalker]

The problem you will run into with pipe is sizing it for the span and loads that it will run. Unlike wood, what span can a pipe of a certain size handle with what amount of deflection? If you build trusses out of pipe, what will they be rated for or capable of spanning?

I have seen very large pipe/tubing used for posts in metal buildings. My guess is that it was 12 inch pipe bolted to the foundation. Then some very large I Beams were cut and welded to the top of the pipe to create the roof structure. It was a clear span of 60 feet, so the material was all pretty large.

That was done by pros who do them all the time. Trying to figure this out on your own will probably cost you more money then you would save by using pipe in the first place. With alternative building methods, you also have to be concerned with failure of the structure. For yourself, that's a risk you will have to make. If you plan to sell the building, or have others inside of it, they that's a risk you should avoid.

Having said all that, with the right design, it's doable. I've been to TXDon's place and seen his building that Harvey designed and help build for him. There's allot of good ideas there and it's something a person looking to build with metal can do on there own with minimal experience.

Eddie

 

[Bird]

One of the interesting projects mentioned can be seen in the thread titled Only in Texas, Don and Harv doing but you may need to go to about the 170th post to start seeing pictures of the whole crew.

 

[cdhd2001]

The problem you will run into with pipe is sizing it for the span and loads that it will run. Unlike wood, what span can a pipe of a certain size handle with what amount of deflection? If you build trusses out of pipe, what will they be rated for or capable of spanning?
Eddie

This was the main reason for my post/thread. I was curious if there was any table for structural pipe like you see for rafters/trusses.

The one my father built years ago had a 20' clear span with posts and trusses on 12' centers. The trusses were 2 3/8" sch. 40 drill tube, 3:12 slope, modified queen truss (had verticals at the thirds). Dad also welded a 3 1/2" pipe between two trusses (center) and set a 12 ton chain hoist. He used that to lift welding truck beds (2,500 lbs), Lincoln 200 amp welding machines (1,200 lbs), and used it to build 40' goose neck trailers (18 round bales).

So, I am confident the design is strong, but would like to know just how "strong" it is.

BTW, I am having a lot of difficulty locating wood posts larger than 4x6 or 5", longer than 16 ft., and with a treatment rating higher than 0.40. We must have really hungry termites in the ground, because any 0.40 and lower treated boards will be eaten in the middle (no treatment in the middle) if left on the ground for 1 year. Seems the termites find a way past the outer treatment when the wood starts to "naturally" crack from drying.

 

[cdhd2001]

One of the interesting projects mentioned can be seen in the thread titled Only in Texas, Don and Harv doing but you may need to go to about the 170th post to start seeing pictures of the whole crew.

I even saw Eddie in the pictures!