UK source for square hole bushing?

Hi,

Does anyone know of a UK source for steel square hole bushing?

Cheers,

Jez.

I thought I would bump this up for you Jez.

Though as it looks like nobody knows a source would making one be out of the question. I would have thought two bits of rectangular bar with a groove milled down them the width of the square and half its depth could then be silver soldered together and the outside turnd to fit your hole.

Another option would be to drill out most of the waste and then use the lathe carrage to plane the 4 corners in much the same way that a keyway can be cut.

J

PS Welcome to the forum and is this bush for your Fowler?

Rino used to list them but I haven't been able to find their website recently so they may have ceased trading. Very expensive. Might be worth looking around suppliers of polygon or splined shafting and bushes as such are functionally similar so there probably is market overlap.

Another vote for fabrication using the mill a trough method. I've done such in steel with the closing piece made same width as the trough and welded. Closing piece clamped down on a HSS tool blank to ensure that the hole is really square. Obviously closer needs to stand a bit proud of the sides to give something to weld. Closing piece only needs to go a very short distance into the trough, just enough to ensure alignment, so its quite practical to turn the outside round after welding. Done carefully you can't see the join. Tool blank usually needs tapping out due to post weld contraction and a few strokes with a file are required to get a nice sliding but shake free fit.

I stick welding a good inverter welder makes for a much easier job compared to the usual hobby rated buzz box.

Clive.

Jez.

eccentric engineering sell them :-**LINK**

This is their Australia site but I think they have a UK agent, they are also attending the Doncaster show this weekend.

Ian

Thanks Jason! No - it's for parts to make parts for my Fowler...

Thanks Clive - the welding route was the fall-back plan if a supplier didn't emerge.

And finally - thanks Ian - just the job!

It's to make a boring bar which takes square tool bits...

Thanks again Chaps!

Clickspring has a video on You Tube about making a square broach. If you can not find a sleeve broaching is an alternative.

Thanks John - I think I've seen that video. Very very nice work...

Making a tool to make a tool to make a thing might be a step too far though! Welding is definitely the first reserve method!

Jez,

It looks like you are probably sorted, but; this seems a good place to mention that square drive [socket-set] sockets are easily modified to produce [admittedly short] square holed bushes.

MichaelG.

Thanks Michael - that's a nice lateral idea! As you say, probably a bit short to use for the boring bar tool holder I have in mind - I'm aiming to make quite a stonky one for larger bores...

A square peg tool in a round hole works for me, I have a couple of large boring bars that are just drilled to the across corners dimension to take HSS toolbits. If you really want you can grind the coners of the tool bit slightly so it does not mark the hole in the bar

Yeah - I could do that Jason. Could also use round toolsteel...

How much trouble would it be to ship something like that from the US to the UK? If not too big a hassle I could purchase one here and ship it to you. Oh yes! I almost forgot, how much trouble is it to transfer funds internationally?

The easiest way I've found to transfer funds internationally is either credit card or paypal. Personal cheque is a non starter, the usurers will take so much in 'charges' there will be nothing left.

Hi John - that's a very kind offer indeed - thank you.

The Eccentric Engineering UK distributor lists the bushes so I think I'll order some from there.

Thanks again for the offer though - it's very much appreciated.

(Paypal would probably have been easiest between two individuals as Duncan pointed out - thanks Duncan!)