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Upsilon makes telescoping tubing in four materials, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and carbon fiber, with 100+ stock sizes ready to produce. The stainless, aluminum and brass tubes come from our own tube mills and are cut and processed on 16 automatic tube-cutting machines.
4
Tube materials
100+
Stock sizes, ready to produce
Ø2.8–52mm
Diameter range (0.11–2.05 in)
3
Own tube mills: stainless, aluminum, brass
Choose by Application
Start with where the product is used and what it must do, and the material mostly chooses itself.
Boats, marine and coastal equipment: seawater, salt spray, outdoors year-round
316 stainless steel, or anodized aluminum
316 resists salt spray; aluminum is light and weatherproof once anodized.
Kitchenware and food-contact products
304 stainless steel
The most common stainless grade for cookware and utensils.
Carried by hand or held overhead, like lamp changers and high-reach tools: the lighter the better
Aluminum; for even less weight, carbon fiber
75 aluminum stock sizes; carbon fiber is built to order.
Telescoping antennas, or products that must receive signals or conduct
Brass
Excellent conductivity; classic telescoping antennas were made of brass tube.
Tools that reach into tight spaces, like retrieving parts from gaps in equipment or looking inside pipes
Stainless steel or brass
Our smallest diameter is Ø2.8 mm (0.11 in).
Holding up canopies, awnings or boat covers: long poles that must carry the load
Aluminum
Aluminum goes up to about Ø52 mm: thick tubes stay steady and still light.
Not sure? Send us the application and we will recommend a material.
Choose by Application
Start with where the product is used and what it must do, and the material mostly chooses itself.
Material
Grade / type
Diameter
Wall tolerance
Stock sizes
Stainless steel
201 / 304 / 316·316L
Ø2.8–23mm
±0.05mm
25
Aluminum
6063 / 6061 / 6005
Ø7–52mm
Mutually agreed standard
75
Brass
H65
Ø2.8–23mm
±0.05mm
25(same as stainless)
Carbon fiber
Full carbon / half carbon / fiberglass
Built to order
Mutually agreed standard
Built to order
Five Tube Profiles
Start with where the product is used and what it must do, and the material mostly chooses itself.
Round tube
The basic profile. Aluminum comes in three wall thicknesses, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm, from lightest to strongest.
For: all four materials
Single- and double-slot tube
Slots in the wall stop the sections from slipping or spinning and keep them aligned, adding pull strength and straightness. Double slots are steadier.
For: aluminum; stainless and brass from Ø7 to 23 mm
Eccentric tube
Two offset half-circles: twist the tube to lock, with no exposed lock parts. For small diameters.
For: aluminum
Ribbed tube
Ribs on the inner or outer wall add strength. Inner-ribbed tube still looks smooth and round.
For: aluminum
Shaped tube
Oval, hexagonal, square and other sections, made to your design.
For: evaluated per project
How eccentric tubes lock, and how to choose among the five locks:
Choosing a Profile
A profile solves the problems a pole meets in use. Ask yourself these four questions in order, and the answer follows.
01
Does a tool on the tip need to keep facing the same way?
Hooks, clamps, brush heads and nets all have a fixed orientation. A round tube is round inside round, so the inner section turns freely: push or pull hard and the tip turns with it. A slotted tube has a groove pressed into the wall, and the grooves of the inner and outer sections lock together, like a train on its rails, so the pole can only slide in and out, never turn.
Yes → choose
Single-slot tube; for long poles or hard pushing and pulling, double-slot
A double slot locks on both sides, spreading the load for a steadier, straighter pole.
For: aluminum; stainless and brass from Ø7 to 23 mm
02
Will the pole bend under load?
When a pole reaches out horizontally or holds something for a long time, like supporting a canopy, hanging laundry or picking up heavier items, the load bears on the tube, and over time a plain round tube slowly sags. The simplest fix is a thicker wall, at the cost of a heavier pole. A ribbed tube adds ribs to the wall, the same idea as corrugated cardboard, so it is stiffer at the same weight. Inner ribs sit inside the tube, so the outside still looks smooth and round.
Yes → choose
Ribbed tube, or a thicker wall
Light and stiff: ribbed tube. Weight not a concern: a thicker wall is simplest.
For: aluminum (0.5, 0.7 or 1.0 mm wall)
03
Is an external lock acceptable?
Most telescoping poles set their length with a lock such as a flip lock or push-button lock, mounted outside the tube. If the tube is slim and you want a clean look and a comfortable grip, use eccentric tubing: its section is two offset half-circles, so you extend it to length and twist the tube, and the sections press tight; twist back to release.
No → choose
Eccentric tube
It is the internal twist lock for slim tubes: the tube itself is the lock.
For: aluminum
04
Any special requirements for shape or grip?
A round tube rolls on a table and turns in the hand. Oval, hexagonal and square sections sit still and grip well, align and lock with other parts, or give your brand a shape people recognize at a glance.
Yes → choose
Shaped tube
Made to your product design. For sections outside our stock range, aluminum needs a new extrusion die: 30–45 days, and the die belongs to you.
For: evaluated per project
None of the four? Choose round tube. It is the basic profile with the most sizes; aluminum comes in 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm walls.
Facing two at once, such as tip alignment and a special shape? Send us both needs and we will recommend a material and profile combination that works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every piece inspected
6 inspection steps, 100% inspection, no sampling
SMETA 4-Pillar audited
Audited every year since 2019
Reply in 6–10 hours
Solution and quote within 24–48 working hours
Five things we need to quote
Application: where it is used, horizontal or vertical
Length: extended and collapsed length
Preferred material: leave blank if unsure
Special needs: anti-rotation, locking or strength
Estimated quantity
Missing a few? That's fine. Send drawings, sketches or a reference sample along with what you have.