Abstract: There is provided a tube end configuration for joining two hollow tubes end to end, the novel joint comprising a tapered end on one tube, which end fits into the untapered end of another tube forming a variable length tubular pipe. The untapered tube end has one or more protrusions (ridges) extending inwardly from its inner wall while the tapered end has one or more complementing indentations (recesses) extending inwardly from its outer wall. The ridges engage the recesses when the tubes are joined together. One or both of the tubes also have several longitudinally aligned slots located within the tube ends that overlap whereby spring leaves are defined which can flex resiliently to allow the ridge(s) to ride over the taper and fixedly lodge in the recess(es) as the tubes are slid together.