I'm looking at getting the Kupo menage arm kit - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1467254-REG/kupo_kg603612_pipe_boom_rig_kit.html/BI/2855/KBID/3801

The recommendation is gal pipe but I'm wondering if I can get away with aluminium pipe. I understand that the tensile strength is much less and with a heavy light, the pipe would be much more likely to fail but the pipe is supported by ratchet straps that can hold 100's of kilo's.

Surely I don't need gal pipe to hold an Aputure 600 at the end of the boom.

Has anyone tried this, any horror stories about a light smacking the talent into next week when if failed?

There is a better chance of deforming the aluminum pipe when you tighten up the screw clamps. Once deformed it may be harder to take apart.

that's a really good point, I hadn't thought of that

Hi Paul, maybe get in touch with this crowd they might help with various thickness aluminium pipes. You could buy a short piece to test its strength when you tighten it …

https://www.ullrich.com.au/products/Aluminium-Round-Hollow-Tube/

I’d also ask their opinions and advice from the reviews, questions and answers on the B&H site …

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1467254-REG/kupo_kg603612_pipe_boom_rig_kit.html/qa/BI/2855/KBID/3801 (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1467254-REG/kupo_kg603612_pipe_boom_rig_kit.html/qa/BI/2855/KBID/3801/BI/2855/KBID/3801/BI/2855/KBID/3801/BI/2855/KBID/3801)

Cheers.

It's designed for 1.5" pipe, so I'd not have an issue with thick walled aluminium 1.5 to 2mm wall thickness. That also resists deformation from screwing down tight. The snag with the thin stuff is that the strap, with centre standoff is very strong and the collapse danger comes from tube compression. Thick wall is good in compression, but thin wall is better in tension - it tends to fold in compression. Galvanised steel pipe of that diameter is VERY strong. Here in the UK we use 1.5"m thick wall for longer TV antennas and it's pretty tough and takes the bolts screwed into it pretty well. The thin wall stuff is vastly weaker.

Hi Paul, maybe get in touch with this crowd they might help with various thickness aluminium pipes.

Cheers.

Good link! Thanks Allan - I'll get some to test