stainless bar?

long shot, but thought id ask here prior to being bent over at an engineering firm

Im after, a bit of stainless, ideally hollow tube 60-70mm diameter, maybe 15-30cm in length with a bore about 30mm however I have a big old lathe to make the best of what I can get
alternatively, just a bit of bar stock i can machine to the above dimensions

can anybody hook me up? ive waited patiently looking on ebay for a number of weeks, cant think of any other option than to knock on the door of my local engineering firm?

thanks in advance

matt

Hi Matt,
Can't help with material supply but this may help you source something suitable if you go door knocking. Approaching a stockist for a bar end or off-cut may work too.

Stainless at this size is usually bar - I've not seen it hollow. And usually it is still Inch sizes 2" - 2 1/2" - 3".

Unless you're submerging the item in sea water then '303' will be good enough - 303S31 to be exact. It's the common free machining stainless steel. It should be austenitic which means it doesn't harden by heat treatment, and is usually non-magnetic. If you knock on a tool room door then take a magnet with you. Slight magnetism can occur from the inclusion of cobalt in some manufacturers supply. Use a piece of carbon steel as a reference. Off-cuts usually are missing identification paint or codes.

Possible sources.
http://www.glrkennions.co.uk/brass-b...StainlessRound
http://www.steelexpress.co.uk/non-fe...ess-steel.html
http://www.mkmetals.co.uk/catalogue/128/1


BTW Sulphur makes it free machining, but sulphur inclusions or sulphur strings can make it crack - if it does there's no way back. I've seen that half a dozen times in fifteen years but then we machined several hundred tonnes per year.

Good luck
D

Did you get sorted PM me, I have a 75mm dia x 75mm long solid piece spare.

Phill

These guys are good for small quantities http://bettermetalstores.com/
Rob