Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
Do you know how fast the automated machinery runs out that tubing. At least hundreds of feet/minute I would guess. The machinery is expensive, but long ago paid for and depreciated. That is just opportunism on the part of the seller. If you are an individual and want to try your hand at building a frame at home, what choice do you have. They gotcha.
I work in extrusion designing tooling and production equipment. I work in plastic, and many of the processes are different...actually most...but I think you're over simplifying here. Making tubing is not inexpensive and I doubt very much it's 'opportunism', since there are actually many companies that make seamless, butted tubing. If you look at the processes required, there's just no way they're making tubes at 'hundreds of feet/min'. Plastic extrusions are often down under 20 ft/m, and there are no mandrels or forming work required at all.