Small U-channel made from metal or plastic

[Ralf11]

Where would be the easiest place to find a run about 8 ft. long of U channel material?

I'm looking for the cross-sectional sizes to be about 3" and I need a flange on it so I can screw it to a wall.

Thanks!

 

[bob15]

Wire/cable raceway

 

[Ralf11]

Thx - will that hold up on an exterior surface with sun & rain?

 

[4xdog]

How about something like extra-low-profile strut channel?

https://www.mcmaster.com/strut-channel/extra-low-profile-strut-channel/

Edit: I missed your 3-inch width. That's kind of wide for any strut channel -- even standard size. bob15 is on the right track, I'd say, thinking of raceway.

It wouldn't be too hard to have some sheet metal bent into your channel either.

 

[bugnut]

metal 2x4

mcmaster

 

[jubilee]

I make my plastic/vinyl angle, channel, and ect. out of plastic/vinyl fence posts. Straight edge and rotozip, small skill saw, table saw, or whatever will cut it.

 

[4xdog]

metal 2x4

mcmaster

^^^ Boy, that's a good idea.

 

[Two Speed]

Eavestrough, or downspout (10'x3"x2")

 

[Throughfaith323]

I make my plastic/vinyl angle, channel, and ect. out of plastic/vinyl fence posts. Straight edge and rotozip, small skill saw, table saw, or whatever will cut it.

Definitely using this idea one day!

If you decide on steel, local steel supply places are far cheaper than big box stores/other.

 

[dave_dj1]

Is vinyl J channel big enough?
A vinyl siding accessory.

 

[Ralf11]

I dunno - it seems to be assymetrical in cross-section.

 

[nadogail]

Your local sheet metal shop should be able to make exactly what you want.

 

[quickfarms]

I would either bend it out of 16 gauge or take a 4 foot piece of 1/8” wall box tubing and cut it so you have two pieces.

A worm drive skill saw with a metal cutting blade will easily cut it, just use the guide attachment

This is my favorite blade

 

[Ralf11]

still spinning my wheels on this - metal won't work

- what are the things called that HVAC guys use to hide piping runs on the outside of a house (like for ductless heat exchangers)?

This is to cover a run of pex used on the outside of a house, which needs to be shielded from sun light.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Hat section
Pipe chase
Conduit covers
Lineset covers

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have someone bend a cover for it using matching coil stock and siding brake.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Or run it in a piece of PVC conduit painted to match.

 

[Ralf11]

It is already installed - so I need something I can put over it. something U shaped with a flange would be perfect... 2" x 2" inside

 

[Youngandfree]

still spinning my wheels on this - metal won't work

- what are the things called that HVAC guys use to hide piping runs on the outside of a house (like for ductless heat exchangers)?

This is to cover a run of pex used on the outside of a house, which needs to be shielded from sun light.

Plastic downspout

 

[bugnut]

cable raceway giyf

 

[Cardboard Man]

Or even a piece of rain gutter without the ends...

 

[NUTTSGT]

It is already installed - so I need something I can put over it. something U shaped with a flange would be perfect... 2" x 2" inside

You could cut the back side out of the conduit and use conduit straps to hold it on.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

When I was in the HVAC business for 1 weekend they used metal downspouts to cover the line sets as they ran them up the side of the house. They had a trick to snip on both sides of the seam on the back and then "peel" the strip down the entire length of the downspout. That avoided the hundreds of "meat hooks" you would have left if you cut it with tin snips.

 

[Ralf11]

You could cut the back side out of the conduit ...

hours of painstaking work with a hand saw is exactly what I want to avoid

 

[NUTTSGT]

hours of painstaking work with a hand saw is exactly what I want to avoid

You could use a hand saw but I would use a circular saw or jig saw.

 

[Ak Jim]

You could just put the sections of pipe insulation over the PEX to temporarily protect it while you figure out a more long term solution.

 

[flippin]

As said by others, sheetmetal shop could make whatever profile you wanted in an outdoor grade prepainted steel. Would be both inexpensive and much more durable than plastic.