Where to find 1018 bars - 1/8" x 3/16"

[Zhangliqun]

My regular vendors go no lower than 1/8" x 1/4" and the same for everyone else I've looked up on the net. Anybody know who makes them just that 1/16" skinnier?

[David Schwab]

McMaster has 1/8" x 18" and 3/16" x 3/16". Would that work? Otherwise I don't see it anywhere.

[David King]

You'll need to find someone with a big hydraulic sheer who can slice 1/8" CRS sheets into 3/16" strips. Alternatively you can get someone to mill down 3/16 square stock

[Zhangliqun]

Guess I'm gonna have to figure a way to cut them myself. Good thing I got some new bandsaw blades. Anybody got an idea for inventing a sled/slide to cut it without slippage? The miter that comes with the bandsaw just ain't gonna cut it, so to speak.

[David King]

Zhangliqun,

We've had this discussion before... You need to make a fence for that bandsaw. There's also the waterjet option which might get you a cleaner cut than the sheer.

[Zhangliqun]

Sure, I can drill some holes in the table and screw down a bar. But doesn't the fence have to be able to be moved to vary the distance from the blade? Or is this a permanent position? Sorry, I'm a complete philistine when it comes to some of this stuff, so humor me.

[Bruce Johnson]

I deal with this quite a bit, as I make parts for some pro pickup builders. In fact, I have a bunch of 1/8" x 3/16" steel bar stock here, which I use to make up pole shoes for one of my clients, Rob Timmons of Arcane Pickups. I can't sell any to you, because it belongs to him. He ordered it from some steel company, and had to buy a whole lot of it, like 1000 ft. Contact him, and he might be willing to sell you some.

If you want to make your own 1/8" x 3/16" steel strips in relatively small quantities, the simplest way is to use a milling machine. Even one of those cheap little benchtop mill/drill machines will do fine for that job. Make up a custom set of vise jaws with an 1/8" deep step at the top edge. Buy 3/16" square bar stock, cut it into 4" to 6" lengths, pop it in the vise, and use an end mill to trim off 1/16". It doesn't take long, and you'll get a straight, smooth strip in one pass.

Trying to make up 1/8" x 3/16" steel strips from plate stock with a bandsaw or a shear will be an exercise in frustration. Possible, but a lot of problems with dimensional accuracy, distortion, and burrs.

[ReWind]

Earl M. Jorgensen sells 1/8" X 3/16" cold rolled/cold formed 1018 flats: Earle M. Jorgensen Company® - Distributor of metal bars, tubular products, plate

Until I get a mill or rig up something of a jig on my lathe to mill it, I'm buying 3/16" X 1" X 6' flats and roughing them into strips on a bandsaw with a thick bimetal blade, the running them through a simple wood jig on my belt sander with silicon carbide paper to clean them up. It gets the job done with accuracy as good as I've seen in vintage examples and without overheating the steel.

[Bruce Johnson]

Earl M. Jorgensen sells 1/8" X 3/16" cold rolled/cold formed 1018 flats: Earle M. Jorgensen Company® - Distributor of metal bars, tubular products, plate

Now that you mention it, I think Jorgensen is where Rob got his 1/8 x 3/16 bar stock. They do appear to list it as being a stock item. But I'm sure they have a minimum order. Wherever he got it, it's good material. Dimensionally accurate, smooth surfaces, square corners. I've made up about 500 pole shoes for Rob out of it, so far. And he keeps ordering more.....

[David King]

Rewind,
congrats of digging up a source. I gave up too early.
If you want to sand steel to shape you might look for a zirconium belt (blue). These are what knife makers seem to use. There are other belts as well, green and yellow that should hold up well.

[belwar]

My regular vendors go no lower than 1/8" x 1/4" and the same for everyone else I've looked up on the net. Anybody know who makes them just that 1/16" skinnier?

I buy the stuff from earl jorgenson, but beware in buy it as you have to buy ALOT to make it worth your while as the pricing is a sliding scale.. It's something rediculous like $60 for one piece, or $300 for 100 pcs. It ships only out of chicago. I get them to cut it in half, that way it can be shipped by UPS as opposed to freight

[Bruce Johnson]

Yes, for sanding steel, the blue zirconium belts are best. And you want a coarse one, like 60 grit. The coarse belt cuts the steel quickly, and the finish is smoother than you'd expect. A 60 grit zirconium belt is also a great thing to have for sharpening drill bits and shaping any High Speed Steel tool bits.

[Zhangliqun]

Looking into Jorgensen, thanks guys...

[ReWind]

I've already inquired with them and, unless you want to buy more than a lifetime supply, it seemed cheaper to buy from McMaster or elsewhere (local in my case) and still have money left to pay for a mill.

The folks at Jorgensen were very nice, however. Set me up with a dealer account and I got several quotes that didn't add up in my mind. When I inquired the next day, I was told that 500lb orders are what you want to get their best pricing.

Hey, I'm down to throw in on a group buy if it goes that way.

Just let me know.

James

[ReWind]

Oh, I guess I am using an AL zirconia belt. It's blue, ya. 80 grit. Just checked what it was. I still have it's partner in the package, as I've not changed the belt in 6 months of almost "light daily" use. Good stuff.