Why is there never any material the correct size?

[Spark plug]

i promised a little job would be done for the weekend, assuming there would be some 10mm round in the workshop. But typically there isn't, he's gone above and beyond for me in the past so I've resulted to this:

Turning 12mm down


What extreme lengths have others gone to when there's no material to hand?

 

[brightspark]

get the welder and grinder out

 

[Maker]

I welded together three bits of 40x8 flat bar, cut it roundish, then turned it properly round and flat to make an adapter plate for a small face fount motor.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Loads!
Turning 12 to 10 is nothing with a travelling steady. Be glad you're not using a bench grinder instead!

Can't think of any good examples of my own right now, though there's many.

 

[selectedgrub]

I made a huge ball of lava once if that counts.

 

[Crater Creator]

I made about a pound of swarf before eventually finding out the thread indicator on a Myford doesn't work with metric.
Was trying to make a temporary wheel stud for a steel wheel from 20mm bar. Eventually just waited for eBay to deliver the new one.