Speedrail

Speedrail is Schedule 40 1-1/4" diameter aluminum tube. It is used by the grip department to build various rigs.

When ordering speedrail, make sure that you specify the diameter of the pipe. This is because some rental houses carry 1-1/2" pipe.

Speedrail

Uses

Speedrail is an extremely versatile and reusable building material that can be used to make any rig.

Some example of use would be speedrail menace arms, speedrail wall spreader, speedrail hood mount and hostess tray.

Some of the standardized sizes are:

• 6' - Red
• 8' - Black
• 10' - Green
• 12' - Blue

Color coding is standardized to other grip tools, an example is softgood bags.

Accessories

• Speedrail Fittings
• Soft Goods
• Speedclips
• Ears/Corners
• Pipe Organ

Troubleshooting

If the speedrail is bent, the bent portion should be cut off and the speedrail should be made a new smaller standardized size.

Substitutions

Steel pipe is the only possible substitution that we carry. It's heavier and stronger than speedrail. One note is that it is 1-1/2"

Maintenance

Labeling

Over time the spray painted ends of speedrail wear out and need a new coat of paint. Here is the process in relabeling speedrail.

• Materials
• Speedrail you want to relabel
• Spray paint, make sure color matches footage of the rail. See above for colors coorisponding to length. If you are not sure the length of speedrail, get a tape measure and messuare it.
• Painters tape
• Elevated surface, a rubber maid cart is good to use.

• Mask the speedrail

Paint Measuring Jig

Before you start painting, mask an edge that is 12in inset from the end of the pipe. Use the fastpipe with sharpie jig to measure 12in in from the end of the pipe. Make a small mark no greater than a half inch. Make sure to use 3ft of paper tape to prevent overspray. Wrap the tape once all a way around the pipe and then bend the tape to an angle to wrap the rest of the pipe, about 3 wraps after the initial wrap is good and takes 3ft of paper tape. Put a small tab at the end for easy removal. This 3ft piece of tape should be reused and can with stand 6 pieces of pipe on both ends.

• Spray paint the speedrail

Clip the speedrail to a cart or hamper, longer speedrail might need to be done on an elevated surface in the floor. Evenly spray colored paint onto the 12in from the end of the pipe. Roll the pipe on the surface of the elevated space to cover the speedrail entirely. If the speedrail has never been painted before, you will need to do multiple layers of paint to get a good coat on it. Spray a light layer of paint over the whole thing and let it dry, then go over the area again with another complete layer of paint. do this until completely painted. This also helps avoid globs and runs of access paint.

• Remove masking

Once you are done painting the end, remove the masking tape. it is important to do this before the laste layer dries. If the last layer dries and you pull the masking off, it could take paint near the end of the mask with the tape.

• Dry before putting away

Make sure the paint on the speedrail is dry before you put away. Use a secondary Rubber Maid Cart for this. Depending on the weather could take 20mins for the paint to fully dry.

Alternative Process

This is another way to do it that we are testing to see if its more resilient than the first.

To paint the ends of your 1.25-inch aluminum pipe for labeling by length while making the paint resistant to scratches and wear, follow these steps:

Clean the Surface

• Wash the ends of the aluminum pipe with soap and water to remove dirt and grease.
• Use a degreaser or acetone to thoroughly clean the surface and remove oils or contaminants. Allow it to dry completely.

Scuff the Surface

• Lightly sand the ends of the pipe with fine-grit sandpaper (400-600 grit) to create a rough surface for the paint to adhere to.
• Wipe the pipe clean with a tack cloth to remove any sanding residue.

Apply a Self-Etching Primer

• Use a self-etching primer designed for aluminum, as it chemically bonds to the surface and promotes better paint adhesion.
• Spray or brush on a thin, even coat of primer. Allow it to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Paint with Durable Enamel or Epoxy Paint

• Choose a high-quality enamel or epoxy paint designed for metals. These paints offer superior durability and resistance to scratches and wear.
• Apply multiple thin coats, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. Thin coats are less likely to chip or flake.

Optional Clear Coat

• For extra protection, finish with a clear topcoat of polyurethane or a clear enamel, which will create a durable barrier against scratches.
• Apply 1-2 coats, allowing ample drying time between coats.

Cure the Paint

• Let the paint cure fully for at least 24-48 hours (depending on the product instructions) before handling the pipes.

This process should give you a long-lasting, scratch-resistant finish.

Alternate Alternate Process

• Remove old paint
• Clean area for painting

use soap and water to clean off dirt and grease from the area to be repainted.

• Scuff painting area

use a fine sand paper to create rough terrain to adhere the paint better.

• Mask area for painting

Before you start painting, mask an edge that is 12in inset from the end of the pipe. Use the fastpipe with sharpie jig to measure 12in in from the end of the pipe. Make a small mark no greater than a half inch. Make sure to use 3ft of paper tape to prevent overspray. Wrap the tape once all a way around the pipe and then bend the tape to an angle to wrap the rest of the pipe, about 3 wraps after the initial wrap is good and takes 3ft of paper tape. Put a small tab at the end for easy removal. This 3ft piece of tape should be reused and can with stand 6 pieces of pipe on both ends.

• Paint on Aluminum Primer

Do 2 layers of thin application of paint. Make sure each layer is totally dry before applying the next.

• Paint thin layers of colored paint

Make sure the previous layer is fully dry before starting the next. 3-4 layers of thin paint.

• apply clear coat

Use poly urethane spray paint to coat the newly painted area. spay 4 thin layers. make sure each layer is fully dry before spraying the next layer.

Cutting

Use the Rigid pipe cutter in the Bolt Film Solutions area, if pipe is over 6' long you can put the cutter on a rubbermaid cart.

The pipe cutter gives you the cleanest edge and is very simple to use. Do not use the chop saw