I noticed that a lot of beginners (like me) sometimes make their own skate-bearing slides that ride on Gas Pipe for their first machine. Some of you even get damn good performance and accuracy from that set-up.
Well, I was looking on Rockler Woodworking Supply for some new clamps - when I saw seomthing interesting. They have 48" zinc plated steel pipe for their clamps (threaded on one end) for $19 a pair. Price doesn't seem too bad, so I thought maybe it could be a good alternate for gas pipe for bearing-guides or even an oiled slide with a delrin sleeve? Looks like they are the same diameter of gas pipe?
Any thoughts? Anyone have these or similar? Would they hold up to the abuse?