Thread: Steel supplier needed, preferably in SA.

Hi,


I live in SA and need a supplier for precision ground flat bar 4140 or O1 steel. Minimum dimensions are 20 x 50 mm and I want 1 metre which should comply with the APO's max size for posting if required. I can get it from McMaster-Carr but freight might be a burden! Any suggestions please?

Charles

you will pay through the nose for it in adelaide, but you could try Interlloy 8359 5099

you can also try Bohler in Victoria...they will send to Adelaide

Hales Australia have a Adelaide branch not sure how much o1 flat bar they keep, but they can get it from their other branches.

Surman metals will get BMS in as well.

You won't get 1m from interloy

Originally Posted by China

You won't get 1m from interloy

yes, ever since they were taken over you are more likely to get 980mm.

I would try Ian Stansfield Smith in Hallam, they are always super helpful and I've had them deliver to me too. I have an account with interlloy and they are still a pita

If you ask really nicely, someone like Green Steel in Hindmarsh or Steel Plus in Somerton park might be able to get some in for you but that's only if they can wangle an order somehow. I think Interlloy have a $100 minimum order, so if you can buy enough, you might be safe.

Michael

Thanks for the suggestions. I will follow them up and let you know how I go.

Charles

A mate suggested this company I know nothing about them Carbon Steel Bar - Product Stocking and Processing Service Program

Originally Posted by cfranks

I will follow them up and let you know how I go.

Charles

yeah please do.

4140 and O1 are completely different steels. Out of interest what ere you using this for?

Pete, I understand that they are different, the common factor is 'Precision Ground' and these 2 were the cheapest I found when I first searched McM-C. although I have found cheaper (PG low carbon steel) since. I'm making a Taper Attachment for my old Nardini lathe and the steel I need is for the adjustable slideway. The TA is based on Stan Zinkowski's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG7cJdJUc3M and the 20mm ground rod gave me ~2mm flexure. Not good for accurate tapers. Larger dia rod was just too heavy so I thought I would get PG flat bar, hence my initial question. I tried some of the suggestions provided above, Melbourne and Adelaide and the common comment was variations of 'You won't get PG flat bar in Australia. Nobody stocks it since nobody wants to buy it'. I found PG low carbon flat bar 3/4" x 2.5" x 24" for $US71.30 at McMaster-Carr and I'm waiting for a freight quote to see if my OAP pension can afford it!
Thanks again for your help guys.

Ok, well both are not great choices for your application, will cost you an arm and a leg ... and a citizenship because McMaster-Carr won't sell to Australia. All part of the Patriot Act in the land of the free. If you're worried about them being "precision ground" then get some cheap hot rolled (what he used), machine out the majority of the features and then ask a machine shop to grind it for you. All you need is flat so there is no real setup cost to grinding it, simply throw it on the chuck and hit the start cycle. If you shop around and explain the reason I'm sure you'll find somebody who will show an interest and do it at a decent price (ie not free as everyone seems to expect work to be done for, but not the usual sting for a walk-in). Edit: I watched the second video (even at 2X speed it's 15 minutes of my life I'll never get back) and not only did he grind it flat, he then corrected the "errors" by re-grinding it, so I especially fail to see why how buying O1 steel from the US is going to help.

Having said all that, I watched the video and it was a great example of not believing everything you read and see on the internet. That includes what I write That's why we need to use what's between our ears and determine whether what we're being told makes logical sense based on our knowledge of the field, or just common sense. The requirement for that stock to be precision ground or it will distort a 20 mm bar is frankly BS in my opinion. I even watched the follow up video and it just got worse! All the ridiculous alignment and surface grinding served no purpose. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I've never thought much of his work and is a great example of if you can't do ... teach.

Those linear bearings are reasonably forgiving (obviously, he proved it by flexing the bar and they didn't bind). So long as you take reasonable care with boring your mounting brackets I feel you'll be fine with plain hot rolled. I didn't understand why he was screwing around with the carriage anchoring by reaming holes, bushings etc. The carriage is anchored to the sliding mechanism (linear bearings in this case) and doesn't need to rotate on a pivot point. Indeed if it does rotate it will reduce the taper accuracy. Either I'm completely missing something or I'm left to conclude this guy has NFI what he's doing and why he's doing it. Sorry if you're a fan.

That is not an example of a taper attachment I would take any inspiration from.

Artisan supplies has a large variety of high carbon/tool steels and postage is quite reasonable.