Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Brisbane, Qld
    Posts
    33

    Default Brisbane stainless suppliers for hobbyists

    Hi folks,

    Been trying to find a good way of getting hold of some (hopefully easily machinable) stainless round bar in at least 60mm diameter. I don't need much, just making some coffee tamps.

    But running into the usual issue of finding it hard to source small quantities. Anyone got any ideas for a Brisbane supplier who might be able to help? Found a couple of places who seem happy to do small bits of aluminium, but nothing so far for other metals.

    Thanks,

    Danny

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,183

    Default

    Voestalpine (https://www.voestalpine.com/highperf...us/queensland/) should sell anything you like but if they are like their state branch ( eg Böhler-Uddeholm) in WA they have a $55 minimum buy.

    What sizes are you after?



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    The last batch of coffee tampers I made I sourced the stainless from Atlas I think they have a branch in QLD, 1/2 metre was about $200 if I remember correctly
    in my experience easily machinable stainless steel is a myth

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Brisbane, Qld
    Posts
    33

    Default

    Thanks Bob and China - that gives me a couple of places to try!

    Only looking for a small bar of ~60mm stainless, even 300mm would do. A $55 minimum is fine, even if the stainless doesn't cost me that much I can add some other bits and pieces...

    Yeah, I am a complete newbie machinist, so will be interesting to see if I'm being too ambitious with stainless. Seemed like coffee tamps would be an easy thing to try and see how I go.

    Dany

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    139

    Default

    Danny

    My ears pricked up when I saw stainless wanted and started to become quite excited when I read round bar: I was deflated when I realised it had to be 60mm diameter. I have a quantity of 1" round bar.

    Just on the subject of coffee tampers, I think most would be made from aluminium. Certainly ours is aluminium.

    P1050663 (Medium).JPG

    In SS it would weigh more than three times as much if you retained the same dimensions. This one is 248g. Having said that, SS is a nicer metal (aesthetically) and I was taught to rock the tamper into the basket using my whole body ( but not your whole weight of course). This is the way to replicate the same pressure multiple times as consistency (and quality too) is the name of the game..

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  6. #6
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,183

    Default

    [QUOTE=Bushmiller;1958628]Danny
    My ears pricked up when I saw stainless wanted and started to become quite excited when I read round bar: I was deflated when I realised it had to be 60mm diameter. I have a quantity of 1" round bar.
    Just on the subject of coffee tampers, I think most would be made from aluminium. Certainly ours is aluminium.QUOTE]

    The base of SS tampers are usually a fair bit thinner than your Al version and they usually have wooden handles.

    I have 5 SS tampers that range from 258 to 374g.
    I bought the bases already made for between $30 and $60 about 15 years ago and made the handles

    L to R, Sandalwood, with Jarrah, Spalted Pear, Blackboy and cork, and Oregon handles.
    Only the Jarrah handled one has a flat base the others have a range of curvature to allow for the curvature of the PF basket.
    Machining these curves would be hard for me to do as I don't have a big enough lathe rotary table to accomodate the large radii of curvature needed.
    Only the Jarrah and Oregon handles are turned, the others are hand carved.
    My favourite is the Sandlewood.

    Tampers.jpg

    As it so happens I am about to purchase some SS to make up a new style tamper - it will require some 75mm SS bar - $ouch$.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    No! most Quality coffee tampers are definitely stainless steel, with normally a timber handle, costing in the $300 range many Barristers have them custom made
    P1010278.jpg
    This one I made about 12 months ago for a friend, handle is Tasmanian Blackwood
    Attached Images Attached Images

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    I don't know why there are two images, obviously I did something wrong

  9. #9
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,183

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by China View Post
    No! most Quality coffee tampers are definitely stainless steel, with normally a timber handle, costing in the $300 range many Barristers have them custom made
    Probably becasue only barristers can afford these prices, Barista's steal theirs from their workplace.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    Barista's steal theirs from their workplace

    That is one of the reasons this one has her name engraved on it

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Can't figure out how to post a link from my phone, but this is currently on eBay if it's of interest.



    Steve

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Brisbane, Qld
    Posts
    33

    Default

    And of course that happens just after I put an order in for $150!

    Ah well - such is life... Next time I'll check ebay more carefully...

Similar Threads

  1. Bearing supplies for hobbyists
    By mawhins in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 21st Aug 2015, 01:24 PM
  2. Stainless Suppliers
    By vivien in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 16th May 2015, 04:39 PM
  3. Welding suppliers
    By Garry 3 in forum WELDING
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 20th Sep 2012, 04:25 AM
  4. Steel Suppliers Brisbane
    By smidsy in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 15th Mar 2012, 03:10 PM
  5. VFD Suppliers
    By wbleeker in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 23rd May 2011, 11:11 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •