Can I make hypertufa pillars out of PVC pipe?

I found a stack of old PVC (white) pipes, the kind used for drains...maybe 8-12 inch diameter. Just LAYING THERE! I'm itching to haul them home from the dump and put them to use in the garden. I have very very little experience with tufa (made one small planter box last year). Can I use these pipes, standing upright, maybe wrapped with chickenwire, as tufa covered pillars? Can it be done? I know the PVC by itself is too slippery to hold the tufa. Any ideas?