Thread: Flat bar question

Hi Michael.

Google reveals that 40x15 bright MS flat is available from this mob.

Allsteel

It won't be expensive if a kind member here will drill and counter bore the holes for you.

Then off to the platers, satin chrome.

Ken

Hi Michael

As ken said, I'd use bright simply because you arent using enough to worry about the money you would save if you could get away with using black. Also bright will be much closer to size(if that matters). I'd be surprised if it costs you much more than $20. (I bought some 50mm roll bright at $70 a meter)
about 5kgs a meter could ship some in a postpack if you cant get some locally.

Stuart

Thanks Ken and Stuart for your suggestions. I will ring a few places tomorrow and see if I can get bright ms up here in short lengths, all found so far sell in 3 or 3.6m lengths. I guess it should be pretty close to size to nominal size, the main thing will be that it should be consistent.

Cheers
Michael

You will have to ring a few steel suppliers to see if they have it in and will cut and sell you just a piece.
The standard flat bar is called mill finish which will have scale on it. The flat bar you are after is called bright bar and comes with no mill scale on it and has a ground appearance.
I am not sure if you have a metal land up their, but I know down here they will cut to size and stock a wide range.
Going by Scott's in the link below, mill finish flat bar is $15 mtr and bright wont be to much more.
Scott Metals - Products: Flat Bars

Dave

Hi Dave, there is Metaland up here, is that the one you mean? Their web page is a bit hard to navigate so I will call tomorrow.

Cheers
Michael

Thats the one, I find they are a bit more expensive per meter if buying full lengths, but for your small piece it wont matter.

Dave

I have also called bright sections.....cold rolled sections..... comes out of the steel mill without the mill scale on it and is usually closer to size and edges are square and crisp, Anybody else call it cold rolled?


Pete

I used to call bright cold rolled, but I dont believe it is all bright is cold worked anymore.
Stuart

The track is set off the saw table top by tube spacers 16mm OD 8mm ID and 18mm long, looks like stainless. Can't find something like that as a standard size tube. Anyone know?

Cheers
Michael

Michael, I doubt you'll find that as tube. Buy bar and drill it.
Can't see why you would need S/S wouldnt Alum do?
Depending on the tools you have and the accuracy required it might be easier buying flat bar the thickness you need. That way all the spaces will be the same thickness.
Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Michael, I doubt you'll find that as tube. Buy bar and drill it.
Can't see why you would need S/S wouldnt Alum do?
Depending on the tools you have and the accuracy required it might be easier buying flat bar the thickness you need. That way all the spaces will be the same thickness.
Stuart

Hi Stuart, you are right, it doesn't seem to be available and no it shouldn't need to be stainless. The flat bar I need is 15mm thick, the spacers provide the stand-off from the table so that the fence can slip over the track - much like the spacer on the existing round bar in the photo above. I can get a 500mm section of gauge plate 40 x 15 from Bohler for $95 but then still need the spacers. The option of getting it from Sweden is looking better and better given the running around I will have to do. Even better still, I thought to forget about it and just install the one section of rectangular track I have on the table saw. The other section was to go on the front of the jointer table so the fence can be moved there for extra-wide ripping. Given that I have never needed to do that in the past, if needs be I can just use the old rip fence on the round bar track. Best solution probably, jeese I'm a fast thinker Now I just need to find a friendly machinist up here who could drill and counterbore the track I have in the correct spot!

Cheers
Michael

Thats $200 a meter!(which of course you would have been able to work out yourself

I made a couple of calls and I cant even get 40*15 BMS.(Well I assume Bohler up the road has it. lol)
If your happy enough as you are then all is good. If not, and MS will do, pm me.
Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Thats $200 a meter!(which of course you would have been able to work out yourself

I made a couple of calls and I cant even get 40*15 BMS.(Well I assume Bohler up the road has it. lol)
If your happy enough as you are then all is good. If not, and MS will do, pm me.
Stuart

hmm, I calculated $190/m but was never good at maths. Must be time to get my abacus calibrated for inflation again
Nope Bohler up here don't stock BMS 40 x 15. Only place I could seem to find it was Allsteel which Ken posted. But they were the ones who suggested gauge plate and to call Bohler up here. I'll just trundle along with what I have but thanks for the offer and the detective work.

Cheers
Michael