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Georgia

I have finally opened the knuckle box that Steve sent me back in 2018. I am just making sure that it is 1 1/4 inch pipe since I will be ordering it over the phone. I know that someone is following his design and using 1 /1/4, just trying to double check that the original Handy knuckle used the same pipe.

Steve was always good to me, and would privately email me about my season. Which I found to be pretty cool, since nothing that I do will ever be noteworthy. If someone is still in contact with his wife, please let her know that he is fondly remembered.

[Last edit: 09/02/24 8:30:57 PM]

9/2/2024 6:58:01 PM

Massachusetts

I had many email exchanges with Steve and he was always very helpful and generous with his knowledge. Great guy. In 2013, I bought a tripod top from Steve. It was made for 1" pipe as his suggestion was to use schedule 80 pipe. In 2019, when my pumpkins started weighing 1900ish pounds, I bent the 1"schedule 40 pipe that I was using. Steve said most people could not find schedule 80 pipe so he started making his tripod heads with 1 1/4 female thread tops. So, I have both 1" and 1 1/4" tops that I bought to upgrade
so I suggest you measure yours to be safe.

[Last edit: 09/02/24 7:52:09 PM]

9/2/2024 7:34:44 PM

Georgia

Thanks for the reply, Tom. Just one follow-up question. The knuckle pipe opening is about 1 1/2 inches, but if we are talking about 1 1/4 inside diameter then that makes sense. The outer diameter of 1 1/4 pipe is 1.6.

Does any of that sound right?

I wanted to order this week. It will be Saturday before I can take in the actual knuckle and have the pipe place figure it out.

[Last edit: 09/02/24 8:29:49 PM]

9/2/2024 8:29:14 PM

Massachusetts

My legs measure 1.69" OD and they fit the 1 1/4 tops. They are Schedule 40 black iron pipe. No issues lifting my 2074 last year. I looked for galvanized steel legs but plumbing supply places in my area said they didn't stock long pieces. They told me at the time that galvanized steel was more often used in the south for water supply lines. So maybe you will have that option. The issue with black iron pipe is rust. I primed and sprayed my legs and no issues.

9/2/2024 9:19:56 PM

Salem Ohio

The one I bought off Steve takes 1 1/4” pipe. He recommended 15’ lengths. I bought 15’ 1 1/4” pipe it works great with loading trailers or truck beds. I also bought threaded feet for the bottom of the pipes. It keeps the pipes from sinking too far in the ground. Here’s a link for what I use as feet.

https://www.maxwarehouse.com/products/b-k-floor-flange-black-iron-1-1-4-fip

[Last edit: 09/03/24 2:28:11 PM]

9/3/2024 2:21:21 PM

Georgia

Thank you everyone and I am going to buy the flange for feet.

9/3/2024 8:19:30 PM

Merrimack NH

I have one also, mine is the inch and 1/4, I bought Schedule 80 steel just to be safe, I doubt I can grow anything that can't handle. I made the "feet" out a 2 X 12, cut into even size squares, two layer's thick, then made a 'frame" around the edges with 2x4's. The legs fit in the middle and can't slide off. Just another option.

[Last edit: 09/04/24 4:12:49 PM]

9/4/2024 4:11:59 PM

Plymouth, MN

Glad you're going to have one to lift! I have one of Jeff's version of the knuckle and went with schedule 80 pipe and have "feet" similar to what Barry is describing. 2 2X12s stacked with a hole (3 inches, I think) drilled into the top one for the pipe to go. Should upgrade them to better wood as I grabbed some scrap and tend to lose one or two each season.

9/5/2024 10:16:29 AM

Georgia

Ended up purchasing 1 1/4 black gas pipe. The outside diameter is 1.6 inches. Depending on the pipe the lingo could OD or inside diameter.

That knuckle is soooo easy to use. Did a test run with the tripod ant the engine hoist. Big day is tomorrow and it is suppose to rain every hour through Saturday.

9/11/2024 11:13:40 PM