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Uni-strut and hardware source?

J

jage

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Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Messages
7
I'm finally ready to do my garage ceiling, but I don't know where to actually buy uni-strut.

I want to make sure I get the right stuff (universal size, not some off size) and also where to buy the connecting hardware. I'm also looking for a gantry style light hoist, and things like roller bearings that I can make my own sliding rigs out of. Cheap would be nice as well.

Every time I google I get lost in diagrams of different sizes, shapes and slot types, or DIY posts about installation- but I can't seem to find an actual online store where I can just build an order... I guess I'm asking for simple and affordable.

For example, one place that comes up is say, http://www.unistrutohio.com/, but I can't make heads or tails of what I actually need. Do I want the 1 1/4? 1100 series? Fiberglass? Again just an example.

So where do you buy?
What is the best size?
 
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R

rockwithjason

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Jan 8, 2006
Messages
2,633
Location
Las Vegas
Fastenal has strut products. Be careful of brand names versus trade names. Unistrut is a brand, others are power strut, super strut, and cooper bline makes it too. The atandard is 1 5/8 deep single strut. You can also buy it at your local electric supply house
 
A

akdiesel

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Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
2,617
Location
Wasilla, AK
I have ordered from various locations.
http://www.strutchannelfittings.com/
Grainger
MCMaster Carr
and even Ebay.
All great sources.
As said the standard is 1 5/8" and I have not had any problems fit and function of all the brands mentioned, so not sure what sure what off size you are referencing.
 
D

DanarchyCustoms

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Nov 30, 2011
Messages
275
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
I'll probably get shunned for this but if its only a few pieces I'm pretty certain I saw Unistrut (or a competitor of) at either HD or Lowes one day. Just have to see if its **** or not.
 
S

Stuart in MN

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Sep 8, 2005
Messages
22,992
Location
Minneapolis
My local Ace Hardware keeps a small amount of Unistrut in stock, try there.

Another brand name is Kindorf, so you can look for that brand name as well. You can also get it from Grainger.
 
G

gnxtc2

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Sep 3, 2010
Messages
304
Location
New york
Around here it's called Versa-Bar. You get it from electrical supply houses. Come in 10' lengths. There are two versions: shallow (7/8") and deep (1 5/8').

The VersaBar Corp is right in Paterson, NJ

Billy T.
[email protected]
 
W

where2

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Dec 12, 2010
Messages
772
Location
South FL
As noted previously, 10' and 20' lengths are common. Both my HD and my Lowes stock a flavor of this product called "Superstrut", but only in 10' lengths. I'm partial to the stainless variety.
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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12,489
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50 mi south of Atlanta
Home Depot and Lowes. They have both the "standard" 1-5/8 deep and the shallow depth also, both in 10 ft sticks.

There are numerous variations of the stuff but the common variety has elongated holes on the back side, and either is galvanized or cad plated (gold color), but is also available in different metals and finishes.

Unistrut® is the original stuff, now owned by Atkore International. Their website has lots of information, catalogs, videos, etc.

Superstrut® is owned by Thomas & Betts, who is owned by the ABB Group of Switzerland. They make a similar to identical product (design patents long ago expired) and also have good catalogs and literature and videos on the website.

Do NOT buy the spring nuts, the springs get hung in the oval holes on the back side and will not slide around when you want them to.

ss_1_g_a100_5_ph.jpg


They are very frustrating to use. Instead buy the cone nuts, they are much easier to use.

5405508-23.jpg


Very handy stuff to have, I keep a couple of sticks on hand all the time, plus brackets and cone nuts.

I've used it to make a temporary lifting adapter for lifting my heater with a hoist........

attachment.php


I've used it to hang the ceiling fans............

attachment.php


I've used it to hang the lighting............

attachment.php


I used it to mount an air hose reel so it would not twist or flex.........

attachment.php


And I used it to make a temporary support bracket for my Plymouth Breeze 2.0L engine when I removed the transaxle and left the motor in the body, attached by the passenger side mount only.

attachment.php


Charles
 
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L

lotsoftools

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Oct 22, 2011
Messages
1,316
Location
Inland Empire
Check the gauge of the strut too. All of the stuff I've seen at Lowes/Home Depot is 14 ga. or thinner. They may carry 12 ga. and better, but I haven't seen it.
 
C

Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
Messages
12,489
Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
lotsoftools said:
Check the gauge of the strut too. All of the stuff I've seen at Lowes/Home Depot is 14 ga. or thinner. They may carry 12 ga. and better, but I haven't seen it.
Click to expand...

For most purposes the thin stuff suffices for mounting lighting and conduit, but if you plan on using it for a trolley...........

TrolleyBW_web.jpg


P2950.PNG


You might want the heavier stuff.

Charles
 
M

machine_punk

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Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
2,540
Location
Napa Valley, California
I got the 10-foot sticks of unistrut at Home Depot...about $20 each. They have a limited supply of accessories.

I suspect that either your local plumbing supply or electrical supplier has pretty much any time of strut or accessory you might need...probably in the 20-foot lengths too. (There seems to be electrical/plumbing supply stores in pretty much every town).

Kev
 
D

Dirkus

New member
Joined
Jan 28, 2013
Messages
1
We use Hilti brand at work but it isn't cheap. It does however come with some pretty cool pieces that make it quite versatile. Check out the brackets etc... https://www.us.hilti.com/installation-systems/channel-systems/sc-CLS_CHANNEL_SYSTEMS

As mentioned above spring nuts are frustrating but Hilti has MQM wing nuts that work well. I don't want this to sound like a commercial but Hilti also has ridges built in that help lock the nuts in place until they are tightened.
 
D

Delta74

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
320
Location
Peachland B.C. Canada
as others have said, talk to the electrical wholesalers, try Acklands/grainger , HD may have it as well, garbage and scrap bins of most commercial / industrial job sites. you can get single in the deep or shallow, double strut in the deep ( welded back to back ) with or without the holes and the holes **** for spring nuts.

again, what material do you want? steel? plated? zinc? Stainless? fiberglass? if you were close you could raid the scrap bins here, we probably throw out 150 feet of cut offs a day of stainless strut.
 
B

bob15

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Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
Like others have said, try Graingers, MSC, McMaster, HD and Lowes; but I have found the cheapest place to buy the cone nuts and many of the Gold finished brackets is Zoro tools (a Grainger for small business & homeowner website with much cheaper prices and free shipping over $50.00).
 
S

Stevie-Ray

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
2,894
Location
Michigan's Sunrise Side
Dirkus said:
We use Hilti brand at work but it isn't cheap. It does however come with some pretty cool pieces that make it quite versatile. Check out the brackets etc... https://www.us.hilti.com/installation-systems/channel-systems/sc-CLS_CHANNEL_SYSTEMS

As mentioned above spring nuts are frustrating but Hilti has MQM wing nuts that work well. I don't want this to sound like a commercial but Hilti also has ridges built in that help lock the nuts in place until they are tightened.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Top-notch stuff, especially for new construction. Where our guys would run into trouble, was trying to use the new-fangled Hilti components with existing Unistrut or vice-versa. Some worked, some didn't.
 
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