How to Connect Plywood Sheeting to Metal Tubing

Metal tubing, such as electrical conduit, connects to plywood and sheathing with support brackets.

Support brackets allow builders to connect tubular components to plywood, lumber and other building materials. Support brackets consist of two, flat flanges surrounding a half-cylinder arch. Screw holes in the flanges allow builders to fasten the brackets directly to flat surface. Tubing support brackets that accommodate electrical conduit are available in the electrical section of hardware stores and brackets that support larger tubes, such as metal fence posts, are often available with construction connectors or fencing materials.

Things You'll Need

• Metal tubing
• Plywood
• Tube brackets
• Power drill
• Driver bit
• Screws

Instructions

1. Lay the metal tubing on the plywood sheet. Position the tubing in the desired installation location. Place tubing brackets over the tubing and rest the brackets' flanges flat against the plywood's surface.

2. Slide the brackets along the tubing until they rest in their final installation locations. Position brackets according to the tubing's application; for example, 1/2-inch to 1-inch electrical conduit typically requires bracing every 3 feet.

3. Press a pencil through the brackets' screw holes and mark the screw holes' locations on the plywood's surface. Attach a driver bit to the power drill and mount a screw onto the driver bit's tip.

4. Align one of the brackets with its screw hole marks. Press the tip of the screw through the bracket's screw hole and rest the tip against the plywood. Drive the screw through the plywood until the screw's head rests against the bracket's flange and pulls the flange flush against the plywood.

5. Align the remaining screw hole with its screw hole mark and drive a screw through the screw hole to secure the flange to the plywood. Align the remaining bracket with its screw hole marks and drive screws through the bracket's flanges to secure the bracket to the plywood. Tug on the metal tubing to ensure that the brackets firmly hold the tubing against the plywood. If the tubing slides out of the brackets, tighten the brackets' screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Size screws according to the thickness of the plywood; if the rear face of the plywood remains exposed, protruding screw tips can cause injury.

• If your metal tubing carries water, holds electrical wires or bears a structural load, consult local building codes regarding tube size, acceptable materials and installation procedures.

References

• National Pipe and Plastics: Conduit Support and Spacing