Thread: Noob question about steel supplies

Originally Posted by BaronJ

... schools having to make a profit !

Haaaahahahahaha

I spend money on being a metalwork teacher. Im contractually forbidden to sell stuff for plainly obvious reasons. Aint no profits here!

For me, the biggest cost is time. We've all only got so much of it. If youre happy to spend big chunks of time rooting around scrap yards, then go for it. i get the thrill, Ive been there, done that. You see all sorts of cool stuff. But its just not part of my hobby, and it is a source of more frustration than cut price metal. I like making stuff out of metal, so spending a few dollars to remove frustration from my hobby (and profession!) seems like a sound investment for me.

but dont get me wrong, if part of how you see your hobby is to spend time searching scrap yards, then go for it. There's a lot of ways to skin a cat.

Originally Posted by Vicval01

Interesting points of view, I figure I can undertake both approaches. Thanks for your wisdom guys.

That's the perfect path I reckon.

For me - definitely value in having new, known stock. Particularly if its for a specific project. Finding a supplier that will happily cut to length for a reasonable price is definitely worthwhile, even if its slightly outside your normal range.
Grab a metre of round bright bar in each of a few useful sizes - 6mm, 10mm, 16mm, 25mm, and maybe half a metre or shorter of a couple of larger sizes. Will cost a few dollars, but will give you a good range to start with, and when starting you're probably just wanting to make round stuff so its easier to start with round!

Brass is a PITA - expensive to buy and you usually end up machining half of it away!
This is one area where scrap from old plumbing fittings can really be useful. Whereas steel is so variable in terms of composition, hardness etc plumbing brass is typically pretty much all the same in my experience.
The spindles and handle from old taps yield some round stock in useful hobby sizes. Pipe fittings make great bushes and rings.

Since you're already a self-confessed scrap rat, that's not a new route for you, but what you will find is that you will see scrap differently once you have a lathe.
The old treadmill is suddenly a decent roller and shaft rather than just a couple of bits of tube and some screw-in feet.

When it comes to lathe work, solid is king - the less air (holes) in the stock the more useful it becomes...
The downside to solid is that usually you need to cut a lump off to get it into the machine. Looking back I've wasted many many hours of my life cutting stock by hand or with abrasive chop saws etc. Cutting 100mm solid bar with a hacksaw isn't something I look forward to.
Seriously - plan to buy yourself a small horizontal bandsaw if you haven't already got one. Set it up, let it cut quietly in the background while you get on with things you enjoy. Its not a glitzy purchase like a quick change toolpost or a DRO, but it will be one of the best things you ever buy for the workshop.

Steve

Originally Posted by Vicval01

I watch the youtube videos on lathe machining and the presenter inevitably says something like,"grab a piece of round bar, or hex rod, or flat bar...".

It looks like all of these people have a ready supply of handy steel lying around.

I'm just at the beginning of my lathe learning, an in absence of having a cupboard full of spare steel or aluminium, where do I go to purchase (or scrounge) turning stock? I live on the Central Coast NSW.
Metal By The Metre in Gosford doesn't appear to stock it. BJ Howes in Lisarow appear to have round bar, not sure about aluminium.

Are there any places that might be able to provide scrap steel off cuts?
At this stage I don't think I'm ready to by metres of various size rods etc.
Sorry if this is a naive question. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Vic

ScottyD

I think you have missed the point of the OPs whole question.

You came at from your own point of view as Man Arts teacher.The poster lives in a fairly remote area and therefore there's probably a substantial drive to where he could go to purchase steel turning stock.

You speak of time, you do not have, but fail to consider the poster may not have that time to take the long drive to obtain what materials he needs.

I too have been a metalwork teacher,needing a specialized steel for a project.I can tell you from my experience many shops are not really interested in selling small amounts. They talk of bulk orders and minimum spends. It depends upon where you live and how big the part of the steel vendor relies on walk ins for his business.

Initially what our poster has said "I'm just at the beginning of my lathe learning".

Small pieces are all he needs for now.In fact I understand that the majority of all turning is performed on lengths 200mmm or less in length. One need not have a very big stock pile.Between the legs of my lathe I have a cube frame made of 150 x 150 x 5mm re enforcing mesh.

Between the 150mm squares are 90mm PVC down pipes into which are placed all my lathe turning stock.The pipes take various diameters from 6mm to 50mm.. Smaller left overs are accommodated in a oven baking pan on top of the frame. This keeps it all tidy and doesn't take up a huge amount of space.
I have seen others who just have a couple of 20L drums.

Lathe stock storage.jpg

Offcuts at a scrap yard might be rusty but they are still off cuts and for a those who have limited budget are a godsend. I have been using such material for 15 years and never once found a defect.

Snapey ,

Not a good memory,crikey, I forget what happened yesterday but have no trouble with things from years back. I remembered i had a scrap yard yard guide to metals ,so I'll post that too. So for some steels the wreckers might be Ok to. Bear in mind ScottyD s warning would apply hereabout cracked or defective materials,but most of us are only likely doing simple work.

JUNKYARD STEELSS copy.jpg


Grahame

Do you ever come to Sydney, if so a company called Edcon have a branch at Brookvale, they are metal merchants and will cut to size, if you sign up to their web site you can choose what you like from their extensive range and see the price, if you don't sign up you can't see the price.
The sellers on eBay are in my opinion quite dear if you have reasonable access to a metal supplier/merchant.

Don`t you just love machining rusty crap.

DSC07077.jpg

DSC07075.jpg

Rusty 10mm plate now 8mm but it is going to do the job.

Apart from those places already mentioned, farm actions is another one if your in more remote areas. Went to a couple, years ago when I was on the road a bit. Picked up some good stuff and a lot of junk but that's the way it goes.

Tony

Originally Posted by pipeclay

Do you ever come to Sydney,...

It's not often I travel to Sydney, but should I plan to, I will definitely check them out. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

ScottyD

I think you have missed the point of the OPs whole question.

You came at from your own point of view as Man Arts teacher.The poster lives in a fairly remote area and therefore there's probably a substantial drive to where he could go to purchase steel turning stock.

You speak of time, you do not have, but fail to consider the poster may not have that time to take the long drive to obtain what materials he needs.

I too have been a metalwork teacher,needing a specialized steel for a project.I can tell you from my experience many shops are not really interested in selling small amounts. They talk of bulk orders and minimum spends. It depends upon where you live and how big the part of the steel vendor relies on walk ins for his business.

Im sorry...literally an hour's drive from the largest city in Australia is remote now? I just cant buy that, not for a second. Im in Griffith, western NSW. Its six hours from my house to the start of the M7 on a good day, and I do not consider myself truly remote. Doesnt have time to drive to steel supplier or make a phonecall to one, but enough time to spend wondering a rusty scrap heap, trying to find something to suit what they're going to work on?

A quick google reveals he has a metaland, metal by the meter, coastal steel fabrications, king steel and central coast steel and fabrication within a 15 minute drive of his suburb. Expand that to include sydney, which would be a morning's return trip, and you double your options from those above. And thats just the northern outskirts. Of all the people on this forum, id say OP would fall into a group of people with the most options available.

Also, who said he needs a bricks and motar store? Why not buy online? Get a rod or two delivered to your door? First search that popped into my mind on ebay - 1020 steel round:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Grade-10...0AAOSwa3BbUwPL

There we go, 35 bucks to your door and some perfectly suitable basic steel to start making chips. There's heaps of the stuff on there, already in nice lengths and a variety of sizes and materials. That price is perfectly competitive too. Hell, if the length or size doesnt suit, most of those hobby ebay suppliers will happily cut to length and make a product just for you.

Im not coming at this from the perspective of an IA teacher, I know I made some observations as one, but I have my own workshop at home too, this is what Im basing my advice on. If he was asking for this advice as an IA teacher, Id be on the floor laughing with the absurdity of the idea of using scrap. He's a home gamer and he's getting home game advice from me.

Some specialty steel supplies like Bohler Uddeholm who have a large set of shelves with a reasonable collection of speciality short pieces for sale.[/QUOTE]

Bob, if you have access to BU at the retail level, you are indeed well served. Unfortunately, here on the East coast BU shut down their branch network about five years ago and are now operating as a trade/wholesale organisation in Melbourne, Newcastle, and I think the Woolongong area.

Chas.

"Also, who said he needs a bricks and motar store? Why not buy online? Get a rod or two delivered to your door? First search that popped into my mind on ebay - 1020 steel round:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Grade-10...0AAOSwa3BbUwPL"

That's what I'm talking about! So there's half my apporach right there. Thank you so much.

And I can go visit scrapyards and machinists for offcuts as well if the need arises.
Love this forum.