Plastic rods and tubes are versatile building materials used in everything from industry and machine construction to design, hobby and DIY projects. They come in different materials such as PVC, acrylic/plexiglass, polycarbonate and POM – each with particular properties. In this guide you get an overview of types, materials and applications.
Why should I choose rods and tubes in plastic?
Plastic rods and tubes are versatile building materials used in many projects and industries. We offer a wide range of rods and tubes in different plastic materials – PVC, acrylic/plexiglass, polycarbonate and POM. The products can be cut to measure so they fit your project exactly.
See our range of plastic rods and tubes here
What are plastic rods and tubes?
- Plastic tubes are hollow plastic profiles used as ducts, holders, protective conduits or structural elements
- Plastic rods are solid plastic bars used as load-bearing elements, shafts, rails or as raw material for fabrication
Both come in different diameters, lengths and materials, each with particular properties for specific purposes. We also offer cutting to measure.
Which plastic rods are best for what?
The four most widely used plastic materials for rods and tubes each have their strengths and typical uses.
PVC rods
PVC rods are robust and chemical-resistant – a good choice for load-bearing constructions, rails, supports and pipework in industry. PVC is also an economical choice for standard projects where there are no extreme demands on mechanical strength. Recommended for: support beams, fittings, mounting profiles, models, model building and general construction.
See PVC plastic rods and tubes
Acrylic and plexiglass rods
Acrylic and plexiglass rods are clear and have good optical transparency. They are often used for design, interiors, displays, signs and decorative elements where appearance matters. Acrylic is easy to fabricate with ordinary tools and popular for hobby and projects with an aesthetic focus. Recommended for: transparent components, decorative solutions, display frames, light-diffusing elements and art projects.
See acrylic and plexiglass rods
Polycarbonate rods
Polycarbonate rods combine high impact strength and good flexibility. They are a good choice when there is a need for mechanical strength and durability without compromising on flexibility. Polycarbonate handles harder loads than acrylic and is more impact-resistant than PVC. Recommended for: technical parts, protective screens, machine parts, safety applications and areas with mechanical load.
See polycarbonate rods
POM rods (acetal/Delrin)
POM rods are an engineering plastic with very high wear resistance, low friction (0.2–0.35) and excellent dimensional stability. This makes them ideal for industrial components, moving parts, guide rails and parts where precision and strength are decisive. Recommended for: gears, plain bearings, guide rails, machine shafts, wear parts and precision components.
Read more about POM in our guide to work sheets for the industry.
Advantages of plastic rods compared with metal and wood
Low weight:
Plastic rods weigh considerably less than metal rods – often 1/4 to 1/8 of the weight – making transport and installation easier.
Corrosion resistance:
Plastic does not react to moisture, rust or chemicals like metal – giving a longer service life in many environments, especially outdoors and in industrial wet environments.
Easy fabrication:
Plastic rods can be cut, drilled and formed with ordinary tools without the material breaking. Many can be machined like metal in CNC machines.
Material variety:
You can choose rods with specific properties depending on the project:
- Impact resistance: polycarbonate
- Low friction: POM
- Optical clarity: acrylic
- Chemical resistance: PVC, POM
Electrical insulation:
Plastic does not conduct electricity – suitable in electrical and electronic applications.
Price:
Many plastic rods are considerably cheaper than the equivalent in metal.
How do you choose the right rods and tubes in plastic?
Project requirements:
Consider which mechanical properties you need:
- Impact strength: polycarbonate
- Strength and stiffness: POM
- Sliding and low friction: POM
- Transparency: acrylic/plexiglass
- Chemical resistance: PVC or POM
- Budget: PVC
Material choice:
- Clarity and design: acrylic/plexiglass
- Technical and load-bearing applications: POM or polycarbonate
- General construction: PVC
- Wear parts and moving components: POM
Dimensions:
- Measure exactly the length, diameter or thickness you need
- Have the materials cut to measure to minimise waste
- Check both the outer and inner diameter on tubes
Fabrication:
- Consider which tools and processes are needed
- Sawing, drilling, milling or heating
- Most plastic types are fabricated with standard tools
How to fabricate rods and tubes in plastic
Plastic rods and tubes can be fabricated with ordinary tools if you follow the right techniques for the material.
Cutting
Use a fine-toothed saw intended for plastic to achieve clean, straight edges. For precise cuts, a circular saw or band saw can be used. POM can also be cut with metal tools.
Drilling
Use sharp drill bits for plastic and start at low speed to avoid cracks. POM and acrylic give good results with standard HSS bits.
Turning and milling
POM is one of the best plastic types for turning and CNC milling – suitable for precision parts. Acrylic and PVC can also be turned and milled, but require a little more care.
Forming
Some plastic materials can be heated and bent or formed as needed:
- Acrylic: 150–160°C
- Polycarbonate: 160–180°C
- PVC: 120–140°C
- POM: difficult to thermoform
Installation
Plastic rods and tubes can be installed with:
- Fittings and clamps
- Screws and bolts (always pre-drill)
- Special acrylic adhesive (for acrylic)
- PVC adhesive (for PVC)
- Mechanical fixing (recommended for POM)
Typical uses of plastic rods and tubes
Plastic rods and tubes are typically used for:
- Technical components and machine parts (POM)
- Production equipment and guides (POM, polycarbonate)
- Interiors and display solutions (acrylic)
- DIY and hobby projects (all materials)
- Construction elements in industry (PVC, POM)
- Pipework and ducts (PVC)
- Gears and plain bearings (POM)
- Protective conduits for electronics (PVC, polycarbonate)
- Luminaire constructions (acrylic, polycarbonate)
- Model building and art (acrylic)
- Aquariums and terrariums (acrylic)
- Shafts and bearings (POM)
Comparison of plastic materials for rods and tubes
Impact strength:
- Polycarbonate: very high (up to 250x glass)
- POM: high
- PVC: medium
- Acrylic: medium (more brittle)
Stiffness/strength:
- POM: very high
- Polycarbonate: high
- PVC: medium
- Acrylic: medium
Low friction:
- POM: very low
- Polycarbonate: medium
- PVC: medium
- Acrylic: medium
Transparency:
- Acrylic: 92% (best)
- Polycarbonate: 86–90%
- PVC: low (often opaque)
- POM: not transparent
Chemical resistance:
- PVC: very good
- POM: good
- Polycarbonate: medium (sensitive to alkalis)
- Acrylic: medium (sensitive to solvents)
Price:
- PVC: lowest
- Acrylic: medium
- Polycarbonate: medium-high
- POM: high
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions about plastic rods and tubes.
What is the difference between a plastic tube and a plastic rod?
A plastic tube is hollow and used for ducts, pipework or as a lightweight structural element. A plastic rod is solid and used as a load-bearing element, shaft or raw material for fabrication. Tubes have both an outer and an inner diameter; rods have only an outer diameter.
Can I have rods and tubes cut to measure?
Yes. We offer cutting to measure (cut-to-size) so the material fits your project exactly. This saves time and waste.
Which materials are rods and tubes available in?
We stock plastic rods and tubes in PLEXIGLASS®/acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC, POM (acetal/Delrin) and other engineering plastics – depending on the requirements for strength, transparency and resistance.
Which plastic material is strongest?
POM has the highest stiffness and strength for mechanical loads. Polycarbonate has the highest impact strength (resistance to impact). The choice depends on whether the requirement is static strength or resistance to impact.
Can plastic rods replace metal?
Yes, in many applications. POM is often used as a direct replacement for metal in gears, plain bearings and other machine parts – with the advantages of lower weight, corrosion resistance and low friction. PVC replaces metal in pipework and structures exposed to moisture.
Which diameter should I choose?
It depends on the project. For light displays and decoration: 5–15 mm. For technical components: 20–50 mm. For structural elements: 50+ mm. For hollow tubes: check both the outer and inner diameter.
Can plastic rods and tubes be laser-cut?
Acrylic can be laser-cut with an excellent edge finish. PVC is not recommended for laser cutting (it produces toxic fumes). POM and polycarbonate can be laser-cut, but give less clean edges than acrylic.
See our range of rods and tubes
See all plastic rods and tubes here
See our full range of rods and tubes
See POM work sheets for the industry
See PLEXIGLASS® sheets
See polycarbonate sheets
Unsure which material and dimensions to choose? We are happy to advise – call +44 1408 910380 or write to sales@hm-plastic-shop.co.uk.
