Had some leftover 3/4" type M copper tubing from my recent fin tube radiator install and I firgured I try the leftovers for some new rack ends for the next rack. Bent the tubing with my Rems Curvo machine to 180 degrees, soldered on some male adapters and spray painted some flanges to screw down to the 4X4's. Hoping to pick up some 10' 4X4 PT posts next week and put it all together. I might consider running a 10' length of tubing on the top of the bends to help keep the ends plumb, if needed.
Looks good! I'll bet you'll need that 10' run of pipe up top, though. Copper being as soft as it is- way to be creative with the leftover material!
I'm also thinking of going shorter on the span as originally planned. Might want to see how the ends hold up over a little time. Maybe use rope/cord instead of more copper on the top? If I need stronger copper I can always try L or K tubing for more strength and/or with larger diameter or even gal or black pipe.
8' may be better, although I'll bet you can keep your original 10' span if you put on the top bar and also weld on a cross piece to each end, making an "A" shape. I think that would be the ticket.
Picked up some 4X4X10' PT posts, 3"X8"X16" blocks, HeadLok lags and put my new rack together. These tubing ends are actually pretty ridgid. If they start to bow out I will secure them. This is my wood that is ready to burn, close to my family room.
X2 Aside from VOLKEVIN’s solid advice, I also suggest a gentle “S”bend along each vertical leg- will offer a little more rigidity and play well with the top bend
I think it's a great idea. With the copper being a little softer and as tall as it is, I suspect as the logs settle they will apply pressure to the copper and spread it wider. I have a couple of sets of steel rod ends and each year I kept loading them higher and higher, but gravity won and it began bending them. I have since tied a rope on the top of each end to hold the from spreading. It works. You may want to consider that option. This pic was the year I went too high and after 6 months they looked like this.
