[Warren]

If you have a drill.press you could probably use it instead of a lathe for this. Just attach it , make it spin an d use a file to make the indentation you want.on the bottom. It will be straight a d as wide as you want. Alzo, not sure why you can't drill holes in the plastic. The drill press should do that too. Night need a little drill press vise to hold the pipe though. Even if you had to buy a bench top drill.press, is much cheaper than a lathe.