where to buy stock aluminium

[Sliding Head]

i have a few projects that i will need around 300mmx200mm 5mm thick and another i need about 50mm50mm 50mm thick. I also might buy some extra in for testing if its not too expensive.

Hi,
You're not going to get a Test Certificate for an offcut from a scrap bin - so unless you are confident about what you are getting then it may be better to buy something with provenance.

If you're going to machine it and not work it further then most of the Aluminium in the UK will do. If you are planning to weld it or anodise it then 6082T6 will be, most likely, what you will find most easily in the UK - and you should get plate or rectangular bar to fit your sizes. The 2000 series does not like being welded or anodised - I'm thinking 2024 or 2017 (Ok I read MEW too) - but it is stronger.

For the thin stuff perhaps someone may have an offcut or scrap plate of MIC 6 Cast Tooling plate - a lot gets sent back to the suppliers for scratches. It won't weld, it doesn't anodise - but it's ground flat and looks pretty, hence its use in small scale tooling projects. Other trade names apply.

When I go skip diving I know what's in the bins, and therefore what I'm getting. I'd hate to be in the position of having to make a load sensitive part like a footrest and not knowing what the material was.

Cheers

[dfox1787]

Hi,
You're not going to get a Test Certificate for an offcut from a scrap bin - so unless you are confident about what you are getting then it may be better to buy something with provenance.

If you're going to machine it and not work it further then most of the Aluminium in the UK will do. If you are planning to weld it or anodise it then 6082T6 will be, most likely, what you will find most easily in the UK - and you should get plate or rectangular bar to fit your sizes. The 2000 series does not like being welded or anodised - I'm thinking 2024 or 2017 (Ok I read MEW too) - but it is stronger.

For the thin stuff perhaps someone may have an offcut or scrap plate of MIC 6 Cast Tooling plate - a lot gets sent back to the suppliers for scratches. It won't weld, it doesn't anodise - but it's ground flat and looks pretty, hence its use in small scale tooling projects. Other trade names apply.

When I go skip diving I know what's in the bins, and therefore what I'm getting. I'd hate to be in the position of having to make a load sensitive part like a footrest and not knowing what the material was.

Cheers

Hi

Thank you for the info. I have made that mistake. I got some aluminum from a scrap bin and it melted so easily on some of my bits.

I've got a small off cut of 6081 I'm Going to machine once I'm happy with my setup.

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