Imperial sized materials

1/8" mild steel is still available. I bought some 3" x 1/8" for loco frames just last week. Look at www.arenastock.co.uk.

What I can't find is bright mild steel angle in imperial sizes. I want some 1" x 1" x 1/8" for buffer beams and I can't find any. I can get 25mm x 25mm x 3mm and I might have to settle for that.

Regards,

Brian Thompson.

The problem with your bright imperial flat stock which I agree is readily available will be that it has a tendancy to move when the axle box cutouts are done. Thats why itys preferable to use black plate which is now only metric.

J

Jason: Do you mean that it changes shape because internal stresses are being released and that black steel doesn't have such stresses?

The drawings I am currently working from (and others I have) specifies bright mild steel which is why I just bought some.

Perhaps cooking it in the oven would releive the stresses!

Regards,

Brian.

Thats it bright tends to move more than black. Holding at red heat for a few mins then allowing to cool as slowly as possible will help to stop it moving.

Bright does tend to be a bit easier to work and has nice square corners, rails sheared from sheet can have a bit of a rough edge.

Just as an example I cut this crank out of a bit of 1"x2" bright and it moved 0.040" once the waste had been stitch drilled out, I could actually see it curling apart as I drilled.There was enough to play with though so no problems.

J

Double post

Edited By JasonB on 23/02/2012 17:33:23

Hi Brian

You say :- "I want some 1" x 1" x 1/8" for buffer beams and I can't find any. I can get 25mm x 25mm x 3mm and I might have to settle for that."

I doubt that 0.4mm difference in width and 0.18mm difference in thickness will be of much consequence in a buffer beam.

Regards

Norman

> I doubt that 0.4mm difference in width and 0.18mm difference in thickness will be of much consequence in a buffer beam.

Bang go your chances of the DoE Trophy...

Actually Reeves have got a box of foot lengths of the stuff going reasonably cheap to the right of the counter. A bit grubby and not quite 90 degrees so you have to mill it true. Used it for all the big joins on my shunter chassis.

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 23/02/2012 20:47:19

Black plate used to be - as I know it, BS4360 43A, which is now S275. However, as I have tried to source for current parts is not readily available. However, S275 JR which is 43B is the more available and superseded material grade to 43A. This is what I would now count as 'boiler plate' for everyday use.

Try Wessex Metals ( http://www.wessexmetalstock.co.uk) or Precision Profiles (http://www.precisionprofiles.co.uk). - I cannot verify if they will supply to the public but always worth a try eh???

Hope this helps.

Andy.

Edited By M0BND on 23/02/2012 23:09:36