Bits of steel for small jobs

As I am just a begginer on the lathe I am using whatever bits of steel I can get hold off .

I have found high tensile bolts are a good source of small round stock for some of the things I am doing.

Yesterday I called in at my local Russels farm machinery store as I wanted a piece of steel 150mm x 25mm dia to make a new longer key for the headstock chuck, just because for health reasons I can't get the purchase required to hold the bar stock. A 25mm bolt 200mm long was going to cost £33.00 in High tensile steel, so that was a no no.

Instead I opted for a 150mm long Pin that is used to join a tractor to a farm trailer for about £6.00. I dont think it is High Tensile steel but it turns very well.

I have found these retailers of large bolts etc are very helpful when you let them know what you are making.

Just thought I would pass this on in case the information was of any use to anyone.

My experience with using bolts as stock is not so good. I have a bag of 8.8 grade M12 bolts under my bench, bought them from Screwfix for one job and loads left. Thought that they would be ideal as stock. But they machine awfully, very difficult to get a good finish.

Check out the "Shopping Partners" list on the right side of the page. Macc Models is one supplier who is good for little bits and it saves a drive out.

My experience with using bolts as stock is not so good. I have a bag of 8.8 grade M12 bolts under my bench, bought them from Screwfix for one job and loads left. Thought that they would be ideal as stock. But they machine awfully, very difficult to get a good finish.

I tend to use sharp carbide to machine high tensile bolts, they can be pretty tuff

People may find that they have local suppliers tucked away some where. Most will cut to the size that is wanted. Finding them can be tough. Google can help with suitable search terms but searching for say stainless steel probably wont help. Searching for non ferrous metal suppliers might. As might steel. They seem to be a strange breed and don't advertise much especially the smaller ones. Cost I suppose. They generally don't care how small an order is or how many pieces need to be cut.. If there is an industrial estate near by people on there may know where they are as well.

It's a pity some one doesn't maintain a map of them. I keep some "stock" 3ft length and often find that I don't have the right sizes or material. If they happen to be the right size I cut them down on the cheap version of the horizontal band saw. These are ok but the cut length stop on them isn't too good - or isn't on the version I have so I use a tape on every piece. To be honest though this was an early purchase. Given a supplier at a reasonable distance I would let them do the cutting.

John

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On a few occasions in the past, the standard shopfloor unwashed had difficulty understanding the principle of a left hand threaded cap screw clamping the blade on an industrial chop saw. M16 x 25lg LH. may be standard in some parts of the world but not quickly available locally. First was made overnight from a standard cap screw with enough plain shank to turn a LH threadform on. Machine back in action within five minutes of start time, then enough time to make a couple of spares.

Material machined beautifully using standard HSS hand ground blank.

Regards Ian.

I usually buy my stock from the suppliers who advertise here on in ME/MEW. I am lucky though, I have a small engineering shop in the village who let me have offcuts of ferrous stock for the price of a pint.

Can you help as lost model engineer work shop no 226. Which was the magazine with the wiper motor speed control. Can you please tell me where I can get another copy or post the information of this we control online. As I have little milling machine from which I am making feed drive

John