material suppliers

I am just about ready to start on the Muncaster entablature featured in model engineer by JasonB and I'm looking for recommendations for material suppliers of smaller sized orders, mainly looking for cast iron, brass, bronze and some mild steel which brings me to my second point of which grade of mild is most suitable for machining some of these parts or is it a case of you get what they have.

Joe

I usually buy raw materials from Macmodels.

The ideal steel, if its not for anything taking a lot of strain is EN1A. This is an old designation that most suppliers will understand although the correct modern designation is 230M07. En1A is a lot easier to remember.

Macmodels are not the only supplier but I have always had excellent service from them.

Brian

Most of the steel parts were done with EN1A steel, 230M07 in new money, for the two cross head guides I use hot rolled (black) bar than was most likely EN3 that's 080A15. The entablature was 5mm steel sheet probably CR3. However none are really critical but you will find they machine OK particularly the EN1A. Stainless steel was grade 303.

Suppliers I use are EKP Supplies, M-Machine, College Engineering and for longer but overall cheaper steel Ringwood Metals

+1 for Macc Models (Note correct spelling if searching on line, or check under "Shopping Partners" to the right of this page.) I also use M Machine for larger bits of sheet metal and steel tube.

I have always received excellent service from both.

Jim

Thanks for the correction Jim, I originally put in an extra 'c' but it didn't look right!

Brian

+1 for macc models