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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
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    666

    Default Where to buy scrap metal to practice on lathe?

    I'm looking at running my lathe soon as I should have the serpentine belt in soon.

    Never used a lathe before although been reading the Hercus book along with a tonne of YouTube videos.

    I'm keen to buy some cheap scrap to practice on and was wondering if anyone in Sydney had some suggestions?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Sydney, NSW
    Posts
    1,249

    Default

    Hi,

    I used this bloke off epay:

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Copper-Ro...eb41142&_uhb=1

    I bought some bright MS bar of varying sizes for $1 a kg. He's at Heathecoate though if you wanna pick up.

    Ben.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    blackburn vic
    Posts
    297

    Default Cheap scrap

    Hi Neevo
    Auto wreckers will get you axles, shock absorbers, wheel hubs etc

    Roger

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Just a word of warning. If you have truly never used a lathe before, "mystery metal" or black bar might not be a great place to start, as your next thread may well be "why cant I get a good finish on this mystery metal?" as some of them can be just nasty. Which will be a little hard to help with as no one will know if its you or the metal.

    Having said that................wheelie bin axles seem to turn real nice

    Stuart

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    home
    Posts
    621

    Default

    When I was in Sydney, I bought bits of metal from an eBay seller - offcuts_galore.
    He has a wide range of stuff and is reasonable on postage.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Try Edcon Steel at Blacktown or any other steel merchant in your area.

    Edcon will cut to size or already have off cuts in a variety of materials.

    Other merchants will probably have off cuts but might have a minimum length to cut if off a length of bar.

    It will be cheaper than driving to Heathcote or buying through Off Cuts Galore.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    102

    Default

    While your at recommending guys any good scrap suppliers in Melbourne

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    666

    Default

    Cheers all. Didn't think about the mystery metal bit. Plus I forgt really how cheap steel is new. I've got a Metaland up the road from me. Will go and see if they have any scrap or otherwise I will just buy some new bar. Anything I should ask for specifically to practice on?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Wheely bin axles are wheely easy to find if you pick the right time. (smiley here)

    Dean

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Neevo,
    An address at "west of the rest of the world" doesn't allow any one here to help a real lot. If you are western NSW or may be even WA your options are going to be different from those available in big regional areas.
    Hey! we are not after GPS co -ordinates but someone in or near your local area may be able to point you to what you want.

    Scrappers and wreckers seem to be in the bigger areas, where as a small rural community may still have an engineering business still viable.

    These blokes probably have ends of bar that they might sell to you at the right price.

    Bigger centers may have a Tafe center. Make friends with the fitter & turner teachers who might allow you access to the left overs bin.

    Grahame

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    666

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Neevo,
    An address at "west of the rest of the world" doesn't allow any one here to help a real lot. If you are western NSW or may be even WA your options are going to be different from those available in big regional areas.
    Fixed.

  12. #12
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    I go to a local steel supplier who has all manner of scrap bits and pieces in a bin at $1/kg.
    They have some very interesting shapes left over from plasma cutting, lots of discs up to 1" thick, bar, square rod, tube and lots of she and RHS.

    While not for a lathe this was an unusual 16 mm thick shape I picked up yesterday.
    Anyone have ideas what to do with it?
    The long edge is straight but had ripples on it from the plasma cutter.


    This grinder stand was all made from scrap including all the locking handles etc


    As was this BS brake,
    Attached Images Attached Images

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,373

    Default

    While not for a lathe this was an unusual 16 mm thick shape I picked up yesterday.
    Anyone have ideas what to do with it?


    To me it looks like the start of a lifting beam to be used with a gantry and block and tackle........

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    melbourne, laverton
    Posts
    1,910

    Default crape in melbourne

    Quote Originally Posted by Simplicity View Post
    While your at recommending guys any good scrap suppliers in Melbourne

    i know a place that there is lots between 70mm to 10omm but its all very hard steel.
    not shore what grades but can be annoying because of its hardness

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    102

    Default

    Bob
    Not trying to run this thread off course.
    But that looks like a pretty impressive grinder stand there.
    Any more pics please would be great.
    Matt

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