[mickmate]

The ends are indeed expanded. The electrical connectors I was making at one time would curl your toes how much they would expand them by driving a pin into the ends of the tube. We also swaged the ends down to reduce diameter (and increase wall). The top tube shown in my pic doesn't show the expanded end I put on it. As you said Rick they can be put together from pieces and finished to look purty if you have the time, tools, skills and inclination (all at the same time and place of course).