Cover plug TP21 70x25x22/5 mm, matte black

Cover Plug TP21 is a ribbed tube end plug in PE with a matte surface. It is made for rectangular tube with an outer dimension of 70x25 mm and has a recess in the middle of the head, a shaped form that gives a discreet and functional finish to horizontal rectangular profiles.

An open tube end is seldom something you want to leave as it is. The edges are sharp after cutting, moisture and dirt find their way into the profile and the look is half finished. The cover plug solves all three problems at once: it covers the edge, closes the tube and gives the structure a finished appearance. The ribs around the shank spring against the inside of the tube and hold the plug in place without glue or tools; that is the whole installation. The ribbing is exactly the point of this type of plug, since it allows some variation in the wall thickness of the tube without the grip being lost. And since the plug sits by friction it can be taken out again the day the profile is to be built on further.

Small things, you might think. But it is often the details that decide whether a structure is felt to be finished or not.

PE, polyethylene, is a soft and tough material that is cut out for the role. It takes moisture, most chemicals and knocks without cracking, and it gives way just enough for the plug to be pressed in and then stay there year after year. The matte surface does not draw the eye and hides small scratches from handling and cleaning.

TP21 suits rectangular tube 70x25 mm with a wall thickness between 1.0 and 2.0 mm. The total height of the plug is 22 mm and the recess in the head 5 mm. Measure the outer dimensions and the wall thickness of the tube before you order; it is the wall thickness that decides how hard the ribs press against the inside.

Which head should you choose? Flat when the plug is to take as little space as possible, rounded when the tube end meets the floor or when the same plug is to work in several positions, and the version with a recess when the shape of the profile calls for it. The program of the manufacturer covers many tube dimensions and shapes; this product page covers TP21 for rectangular tube 70x25 mm in matte black.

The color is black, the obvious choice against black painted and dark profiles; the plug blends into the structure instead of showing.

The uses are more numerous than you first think. Tube ends on machine frames, work benches, carts, railings, racking and shop fittings; everywhere a profile has been cut an end finish is needed. The plug also protects floors and walls from the sharp edge of the tube during transport and handling, and under lighter structures it works as a simple glide. Maintenance departments tend to keep a box in the store, because when a frame is rebuilt there are always a few open tube ends to be closed before the job can be signed off.

Fitting calls for neither glue nor tools. Line the plug up, press or tap it into place with the palm of your hand, done. If it needs replacing you pry it loose and press a new one in; refitting the same plug usually works too, as long as the ribs are intact. A practical tip for fitting in winter: let the plugs lie indoors for a while first, since PE becomes stiffer in the cold and is then harder to press in.

The pack holds 100 pieces of TP21, a good amount to keep in the store. More dimensions and details are in the manufacturer's data sheet.

Not sure whether the plug suits your tube? Get in touch with the dimensions and we will check.