I have received several messages asking where to get the 3 or 4 inch clear
extruded plastic tubing for building ferret mazes that I mentioned in
FML #513, so I decided to answer here, rather than to each individual.
 
I have found extruded plastic available in two cities in the Yellow Pages,
under a headding similar to "Plastic Rods, Tubes, Sheets, Etc. - Supply".
These are mostly wholesalers of plastic products.  However, some will sell
directly to the public.  You will probably have to buy the tubes in 8 foot
lengths.  That should not present a problem, though.  It will take at least
16 feet to build a decent maze (mine is 32 feet).
 
If you still cannot find any place locally, to buy them, you might contact
A-1 Plastics, Inc., at 5822 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX.  Their phone
number is 713/785-3040.  That is where I buy mine.
 
For the record, they are attached with either 3" or 4" thinwall PVC joints.
This is the type of PVC used for septic tanks.  Therefore, you may have to go
to a hardware store or building supply that is on the outskirts of town to
find thinwall PVC (SCHEDULE 40 PVC DOES NOT FIT).
 
Again, for the record, the specification for this tubing is:
 
   3 inch OD - 1/8 inch clear extruded tube  -or-
   4 inch OD - 1/8 inch clear extruded tube
 
We have one little jill who likes to slide down the long tube on her back.
We would have probably never noticed that, if the tubes had been opaque.
Try them.  Your carpet sharks will love them.
 
Chris - I think that I got my mailer fixed so your auto responder won't
bounce my response.  I had to modify the UUX Ruleset to fix my "From:" line.
I intentionally mailed this article from my root login as a test.
 
-----------------
"Cats may be cool, but carpet sharks rule!"
 
John Gaver ([log in to unmask])
 
[Posted in FML issue 0515]