Stainless Rod

As I don’t like stuff going rusty I use this quite a bit. Recent purchases on the auction site have yielded vastly different results. Some stuff was of nominal size and just looked like a rolled finish, although reasonably round I expect. Other items were bang on size and seem to have a machined finish. I find myself needed some of the latter and wondered if any of you know of a good source. I suppose I may have to get some purpose ground stuff so what should I look for that’s not too expensive? Grade is immaterial except I need to drill and tap the ends and face off. Probably something around 15/16mm dia. TIA.

At the moment any steel is expensive, what sort of quantities are we talking ? do you want magnetic or non magnetic, 304 or 316, your looking for ground stock ! Noel.

grade is important as some stainless will rust

Any of the 300 series should suffice as long as I can tap it. I’ve actually been making stuff from some old magnetic 400 series and that’s not gone rusty in my workshop. It’s not for outside use. I’ll probably only need half a metre. I think 14mm diameter will do and I have a reamer that size.

I suspect Cromwell Tools would yield fair quality, but at some expense.

They trade on-line as Zoro. Things seem quite a bit cheaper through zoro - but likely better deals from the stores if one has an account…