Alloy tube quality advice

[Piero]

Hi Guys

I have been asked by a friend, if i can make/weld him a stright shaft with a handle on it for his metal detector,

they are normaly have a S shape handle

what grade of alloy would you recomend

I need to be able to tig weld it,

keep in mind its a little on the thin side with a 1.5 mm wall thickness

also, were to buy it from????

many thanks
Piero

 

[gordon stephenson]

how about a TV aerial mast?

 

[Piero]

Not a bad idea. Only it might be a little on the large id size.

I am happy to buy the proper new tude. Only I dont know what grade tig welds better than an other grade

 

[hotrodder]

When it comes to tube (or any extrusions, angle/box/channel/tee etc) there's typically next to no choice of flavour, at most usually 6063 or 6082 both in the T6 condtion- if the size you're after is available in both then 6063 is the more formable but it's not night or day. Go to yell.com and type in 'aluminium stockholder' and phone a couple of local ones. It's typically sold by imperial measurements ('proper' metric usually costs more when available), generally below 2" the OD goes in 1/8" increments and you want 16swg wall thickness (1.6mm). Comes in 5 metre lengths. If that's too much hassle type 'aluminium warehouse' into google, they're a proper stockholder and usually pretty competitive but the carriage will probably kill it for a single length

Weldability is only an issue with many of the 2xxx and 7xxx series which, free machining barstock aside, are fairly rare beasts outside of aerospace

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Wickes do a range of small aluminium extrusions. 1 and 2 m lengths about a tenner.

 

[Piero]

Thanks guys.
Will do the Google search.
Its 22mm od. With 1.5 wall.


Thanks hotrodder for a detailed explanation as usual but very welcome

 

[Windy Miller]

I have a load of dismantled (well cut up actually!) Zimmer frames in the garage. I've no idea what grade of alloy it is, but you're welcome to some if you could make use of it. I'm not a million miles from you here in Kent, or maybe I could strap some to the bike and take it in to work if you're ever down near the Southbank?

 

[Piero]

Hi windy miller.

Would you know what od and wall thickness the tubes you have are.

I would need one meter length. A tad over 3 foot

 

[Windy Miller]

Hi windy miller.

Would you know what od and wall thickness the tubes you have are.

I would need one meter length. A tad over 3 foot

At a guess I'd say about 1.5 or 2mm - I'll have a measure up when I get home. Watch this space!

 

[Windy Miller]

I've measured it up and it's slightly over 1.5mm wall thickness and 22 mm dia. The longest bit is only about 750 mm long, but most of the lengths have the holes in the bottom for the little spring loaded pins that allow for the height adjustment, so with the inner sleeves you have a little more length. I have a few with a curve on the top, so may be good for the handle.

Let me know if you want some. They're freebies!