[TowerTalk] Concentric Tubing and Piping

[L L bahr]

I'm gathering parts to build a 40 meter Moxon.  The boom will be 24 foot long.  I happen to own some 6 foot sections of 2.5 inch OD tubing with what appears to have 1/16th inch wall thickness. (The stuff has never been used but I have had it a long time.  I think I bought it surplus from Hy-Gain a zillion years ago.)  That means the ID is most likely 2.375 inches. I sure would like to use this tubing as I already own it.  I need to find some pipe or tubing to fit inside this existing tubing to join 4 sections together.  I looked for 2.375 OD tubing and can't find any.  However, 2 inch aluminum schedule 40 pipe has a 2.375 inch OD.

Would the 2 inch schedule 40 pipe bought in 6 foot sections slide and go inside my tubing?  My idea is to stagger the joints of the joiners to the joints of the outer tubing.  Maybe even have double wall throughout the entire 24 foot boom.  Would this work?  I have heard telescoping tubing actually has some gap between the telescoped parts, so they can telescope.  But, I am not sure this is true when you mix tube and pipe.  That's my concern. 

Can anyone educate me on all this?

Lee, w0vt