3" OD aluminium rod

[MattF]

Just wondered what type of price the above is likely to be, in whatever short length is the starting norm? Just had a quick search online, and the few prices I noted seemed a tad steep.

 

[cumbriasteve]

What length do you need? I have a bit in the workshop somewhere, unsure of the exact size but it's going to be about 3" and about 12" to 15" long..I think!....long time since it saw daylight so I may be wrong.

Can't see me ever using it for anything, so if it will do you I will hunt it out and check exact sizes...yours for price of P&P if it helps.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Sorry Matt..nipped down the workshop and checked and it's only 2" dia...I have always thought things are bigger than what they are

 

[hotrodder]

Find some local stockholders and give 'em a call. I'm pretty sure Aalco (or at least my local branch) will cut you whatever length you need once the dia is 3" or more- been a while since i bought any and last time it was 2 or 3" chunks of 6" dia which were less than a tenner each from memory.

Aluminiumwarehouse only appear to offer lots of length options once you get to 3.5" these days, shortest they list online in 3" is 2m @ £112. Worth giving 'em a bell if you strike out locally though as they used to offer short cut lengths in much smaller diameters without bumping the price up lots

Noggin end metals sell by the inch but you pay a hefty premium for the privilege which is pretty much normal

You don't say what the application is but all of the above links are for 6082-T6 which is a general purpose grade (good compromise of machinability/strength/weldability etc). Aalco also offer 2011-t3 which is a leaded free machining grade and Noggin offer 2014. Both are higher strength with less corrosion resistance and are considered 'non weldable'

No idea what their prices are like but also http://www.metalfast.co.uk/offcuts%20and%20bar%20ends.htm

Oh, another to add to the list is http://shop.maidstone-engineering.co.uk/?mod=cat&cat_id=1&order=1 that i book marked ages ago after someone here mentioned 'em (probably Scott0031). Not listing 3" dia but you never know and they're a bit cheaper than Noggin for 2"

 

[MattF]

Sorry Matt..nipped down the workshop and checked and it's only 2" dia...I have always thought things are bigger than what they are

Likely we all add an inch or two when sizing certain, erm, things. Thanks ever so much for the offer. Greatly appreciated. You've now got me wondering if there's owt I could use some 2" for though.

Find some local stockholders and give 'em a call. I'm pretty sure Aalco (or at least my local branch) will cut you whatever length you need once the dia is 3" or more- been a while since i bought any and last time it was 2 or 3" chunks of 6" dia which were less than a tenner each from memory.

Aluminiumwarehouse only appear to offer lots of length options once you get to 3.5" these days, shortest they list online in 3" is 2m @ £112. Worth giving 'em a bell if you strike out locally though as they used to offer short cut lengths in much smaller diameters without bumping the price up lots

Noggin end metals sell by the inch but you pay a hefty premium for the privilege which is pretty much normal

You don't say what the application is but all of the above links are for 6082-T6 which is a general purpose grade (good compromise of machinability/strength/weldability etc). Aalco also offer 2011-t3 which is a leaded free machining grade and Noggin offer 2014. Both are higher strength with less corrosion resistance and are considered 'non weldable'

No idea what their prices are like but also http://www.metalfast.co.uk/offcuts%20and%20bar%20ends.htm

Oh, another to add to the list is http://shop.maidstone-engineering.co.uk/?mod=cat&cat_id=1&order=1 that i book marked ages ago after someone here mentioned 'em (probably Scott0031). Not listing 3" dia but you never know and they're a bit cheaper than Noggin for 2"

Cheers for those links. Application wise, it's nowt extreme. Was thinking of having a fiddle with a fuel filter head unit to see if I could make a decent top to replace the knacked plunger unit on it, so it wouldn't be withstanding any stress, welding or extreme conditions. The part it would be enclosing is 2-1/2" in diameter, so 1/2" extra on the diameter would leave a little extra for finshing, and it'll likely only be held on by grub screws or sealant alone, depending. The prices I'd seen seemed to be around £20 upwards for around 4" to 6" lengths, so that 2 metre length price you mentioned above shows the disparity in the prices I'd seen.

Thanks chaps.

 

[chevy2]

Ebay is quite good for short offcuts of ali,
Search with "3" aluminium round",
1st item that came up was 495mm long for £20,
Bound to be something around the right length and price.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

This guy has got me some longer pieces of Alum bar that I needed some time ago,I find he's quite cheap I suspect he works in a metal firm and brings home the off cuts to sell?

Worth contacting him for sizes.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALUMINIUM..._Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item564c76c459

 

[MattF]

Cheers chaps. I must have been using esoteric search terms. The ones that came back from my search on the bay were eye watering in price. That seller you linked seems to be quite reasonable GP.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

He is,he's a nice guy and prompt in getting the stuff to you ASAP.