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A short piece of plastic tubing can act as a bushing between a bolt and the wooden parts of a pivot or hinge. It keeps the bolt from bearing directly on the wood, helping reduce the wear that can make a joint loose. The fit is the key: match the tube’s inside diameter to the bolt and its outside diameter to the hole in the wood.
How the tubing protects a wooden pivot
In a bolt-and-nut pivot, the bolt passes through wooden pieces that move against one another. Repeated movement can wear the wood around the hole and create a sloppy fit. A short length of plastic tubing around the bolt provides a bearing surface between the metal fastener and the wood, helping limit that direct contact.
Bob Kettler’s woodworking tip in WOOD Magazine describes the method for a pivot or hinge, such as one on a folding lawn chair. It is a practical woodworking technique, not an engineering specification.
Choose tubing by both diameters
Check the actual bolt and the tubing rather than relying on a standard size. The tube must fit snugly over the bolt, while the drilled hole in the wood must accommodate the tubing’s outside diameter. Also check that the tubing can be cut to the length needed for the wooden part it will line.
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- Inside diameter: fits over the bolt snugly.
- Outside diameter: determines the size of the hole drilled in the wood.
- Length: cut a short piece to suit the wooden part being bushed.
The tip does not specify a tubing size, polymer type, load rating, or service life. Those properties should not be assumed from the method; for a joint that carries significant loads, use a design and materials appropriate to the application.
Fit the bushing into the pivot
- Measure the bolt and select tubing whose inside diameter fits it snugly.
- Measure the tubing’s outside diameter and drill the wooden parts to fit that diameter.
- Cut a short section of tubing for each wooden part that needs a bushing.
- Align the parts, place the tubing between the bolt and wood, then fasten the pivot with the bolt and nut.
Check that the assembled parts move as intended and that the tubing remains seated in the wooden holes. If the tube is loose on the bolt or the wood hole is oversized, the fit will not provide the intended separation between metal and wood.
Quick Recap
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- FOOD GRADE PE TUBING - The RO tubing is made of PE material and does not contain BPA, so you can use it with confidence. A good PE pipe should not only have a good cost performance, but also have the advantages of stable and reliable interface, collision resistance, crack resistance, aging resistance, and so on, and our PE pipe meets these characteristics very well.
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Rank #3
- PVC CLEAR VINYL TUBING: Eastman clear tubing handles a wide range of liquids, chemicals, and gases; ideal for low-pressure transfer and flow control
- MULTI-PURPOSE USE: Great for drainage lines, potable water, beverage dispensers, aquarium tubing, and lab use; not recommended for ice maker supply
- SAFE TO USE: Clear, flexible PVC tubing is made from durable materials that can be safely used in potable water applications
- CUSTOM FIT: Tubing can be easily cut to size for specific installations; ideal for DIY or professional plumbing setups
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Rank #2
- PVC CLEAR VINYL TUBING: Eastman clear tubing handles a wide range of liquids, chemicals, and gases; ideal for low-pressure transfer and flow control
- MULTI-PURPOSE USE: Great for drainage lines, potable water, beverage dispensers, aquarium tubing, and lab use; not recommended for ice maker supply
- SAFE TO USE: Clear, flexible PVC tubing is made from durable materials that can be safely used in potable water applications
- CUSTOM FIT: Tubing can be easily cut to size for specific installations; ideal for DIY or professional plumbing setups
- SPECS: This 10 ft. versatile tubing features 3/8 in. ID x 1/2 in. OD with 1/16 in. wall thickness, a pressure rating of 19 to 55 PSI, and a maximum temperature of 170 degrees F; made from FDA-compliant PVC
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