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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: zahc on February 24, 2007, 08:27:31 AM

Title: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: zahc on February 24, 2007, 08:27:31 AM
I need about 600mm long of it, to make some skateboard axles out of it. The thing is it has to be pretty tough steel or it will bend. I'm not sure where you can buy round stock, or if I find some in a scrap bin, how I can tell how strong it is. I can turn it down btw.
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: charby on February 24, 2007, 08:39:55 AM
check you yellow pages for a welding shop. Many of them also sell steel also. 6cm length might be a bit short for purchase because most sell by the foot.

You might be able to raid a junk yard and look for intake and exhaust valves off a large engine, something bigger than a pickup/car engine.

Also a hitch pin might work for you too, you can find those at a farm store. It is a pin used to hook up implements to the draw bar on tractor. IIRC they are pretty hard steel.

-C
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: zahc on February 24, 2007, 08:56:26 AM
Quote
Also a hitch pin might work for you too, you can find those at a farm store. It is a pin used to hook up implements to the draw bar on tractor.

Ah, good call! I'll just steal one from my dad...wait, not long enough. Maybe the axles from a compact car. That's too much hassle to harvest though.

I think it would have to be like a giant boat engine or something for the valve stems to be big enough. 600mm=60cm
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: onions! on February 24, 2007, 09:14:22 AM
Auto parts stores as well as traditional hardware stores will likely have it.
We carried (NAPA) round bar stock up to 1in,IIRC.
12 & 36 inch lengths.
I don't know about no metric mezerments. laugh
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: charby on February 24, 2007, 09:36:18 AM
I've seen some hitch pins that were up to a foot in length.

Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: 280plus on February 24, 2007, 11:52:59 AM
Watch them engine valves, sometimes they have sodium in the middle. you don't want to cut into that I'm pretty sure.  shocked

Yup, local weld shop or I'd think the hardware store might have something. Get em on the phone!

Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: charby on February 24, 2007, 12:40:59 PM
Quote from: 280plus on February 24, 2007, 10:52:59 AM
Watch them engine valves, sometimes they have sodium in the middle. you don't want to cut into that I'm pretty sure.  :0



no kidding, like add water cause reaction sodium? 

Also an expensive axle would be to convert a long socket extension. 3/4" drive probably close to the diameter your looking for.



Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: Stand_watie on February 24, 2007, 05:03:56 PM
A tool and die or machine shop.
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: 280plus on February 24, 2007, 05:53:47 PM
I got a great big and I mean GREAT BIG valve I scavenged off an old shipwreck in Guam. It has to weigh at least 80 lbs. I had considered drilling it and turning it into a lamp. Some people think it might be sodium filled, so I ain't drilled!  grin

I used to keep it right in my living room and it was GREAT for conversation. Then I got married and moved in with the wifey, now, for some reason it's been relegated to the basement. I just don't understand women sometimes, OK MOST times.  cheesy
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: zahc on February 24, 2007, 06:14:09 PM

Quote
Also an expensive axle would be to convert a long socket extension. 3/4" drive probably close to the diameter your looking for.

Ah, yet another good idea. I wonder how that would machine, though. Where's a garage sale when you need one...
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: erik the bold on February 25, 2007, 01:17:21 AM
McMaster-Carr Supply Company http://www.mcmaster.com/

Search on steel, pick what you want.  Usually available in 12-36" lengths
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: Bigjake on February 25, 2007, 09:34:20 AM
ah, beat me to it.

mcmaster for anything you can think of.  never fails.

If you're still in ohio, and get as for north as lorain county, I'd be happy to order a bit for ya, may even have some laying around
Title: Re: Where to scrounge a piece of 1/2 or 7/16 round stock
Post by: zahc on February 25, 2007, 10:50:46 AM
I found some bars, that were destined to be made into like, steering knuckle pivot pins for trucks. I imagine that's about as tough as nails, but they are like 3/4, so I have a lot of turning to do.