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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    texas, queensland
    Posts
    248

    Default question re aluminium grade

    i have a set of plans from an old popular mechanics mag for building a gem faceting machine . in the plans a lot of the components it says to machine or make from "hard aluminum " question is in todays world what would i use for hard aluminum to make these parts from . and to push my luck even further any idea where i could buy it from in toowoomba in small amount as in not a full length .of course the plans are imperial just to make it a bit harder . so 3"x 1" is not going to be that it will be 75 x 25 i should think .
    johno
    'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
    Posts
    1,038

    Default

    I think they are saying stay away from 1200 grade aluminium which is quite pure and is horrible gummy stuff to machine.

    6061 alloy is very common and is about all you are going to readily find. 2011 alloy machines very easily, its the aluminium equivalent of 1214L steel but you are only going to find that in rounds.

    https://www.actionaluminium.com.au/w...logue-2018.pdf

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    texas, queensland
    Posts
    248

    Default

    i have a couple of chunks of 2011 that i bought at a swap meet a few years ago ( should of bought more but for the long carry back to the car park ). it is lovely to machine but yeah only have 2 bits of round .and it gets an oxide layer on it from what i have read and needs to be anodized .
    ok so i will see where i can get 6061 from . i get most of my stuff from metals r us in toowoomba not sure what the aluminium is that they carry though ill give em a ring tomorrow .
    thanks
    johno
    'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Toowoomba Qld
    Posts
    401

    Default

    Johno

    If your in Tbar looking for Aluminium stock do yourself a favour and check out Toowoomba Metal Centre
    https://toowoomba-metal-centre.business.site/
    They do mostly aluminium and a bit of stainless I think
    Normally much better priced than Metals R Us, $10 minimum charge and no cutting fee.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    5083 is not bad stuff either and pretty common in sheet/ plate.

    Michael

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    texas, queensland
    Posts
    248

    Default

    ok ta never been in there but looks like they are in the same spot as wallers and i have been there a few times.
    will be in there next tuesday then try em out .
    johno
    'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Toowoomba Qld
    Posts
    401

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by texx View Post
    looks like they are in the same spot as wallers
    Yeah they are straight across from Wallers, as you drive in Wallers is on the left and Toowoomba Metal is on your right.

    If your from out of town but know what you want you can either call or email David at [email protected]
    David will be able to give you prices and availability. If there is a bit of cutting involved I have given him an order prior and he had it all cut and ready to go when I picked it up.

    P.s. when your in Wallers if you want to cringe have a look at the ways on the milling machines in their showroom. Looks like they removed the packing grease but never bothered to oil them and the ways are starting to rust up nicely.

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