omega0684
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 07:45 PM |
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Where to buy Aluminium for lathing
Evening All,
Now i have the lathe in the garage i would like your advice on aluminium purchasing, initially planning to make a few spacers and washers for a few
things but i am unsure on what grade aluminium i need to purchase. hopefully a little later i will move onto pulleys.
Where can i buy the aluminium needed and what grade do i need?
ATB
PintoBoy
I love Pinto's, even if i did get mine from P&O!
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adithorp
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 07:58 PM |
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Don't know the answer but (and don't take this the wrong way) the term is, "turning" not lathing.
For the odd bit's and pieces I need, I just go around to the local machine shop and ask to raid there leftovers bin.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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tilly819
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 07:59 PM |
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If in doubt general purpose alloy 6082 T6 (used to be called HE30) machines very nicely and is weldable too
most metal stockholders will have some or you can buy it online here
http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/
hope this helps
Tilly
F20C Haynes roadster 440 BHP/Tonne www.youtube.com/handmadeextreme
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Wadders
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 08:02 PM |
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You will find most billet aluminium bar stock will be ok. think 6082 is common for round bar,I used to buy most of mine from a guy at the local
monthly auto jumble who sold offcuts, iv'e had 8" round blanks from him in the past.
Scrapyards can produce some good finds, but you have to be patient and persistent.
Al.
Originally posted by omega0684
Evening All,
Now i have the lathe in the garage i would like your advice on aluminium purchasing, initially planning to make a few spacers and washers for a few
things but i am unsure on what grade aluminium i need to purchase. hopefully a little later i will move onto pulleys.
Where can i buy the aluminium needed and what grade do i need?
ATB
PintoBoy
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omega0684
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 08:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
Don't know the answer but (and don't take this the wrong way) the term is, "turning" not lathing.
No offence taken, im still learning and im sure i'll make many more simple mistakes until i have some more experience at "turning"
I love Pinto's, even if i did get mine from P&O!
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big_wasa
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 08:12 PM |
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I've got a box that I stick any offcuts in. Just keep your eyes open and you will come across loads of bits that can be recycled as new alloys,
brass, copper and even steel these days costs a fortune.
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unijacko67
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| posted on 22/5/13 at 09:30 PM |
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I got the alloy for these rear wheel spacers 150mm x 55mm from http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/ at a cost of £42 delivered and very fast
delivery.
 
Description
http://www.kittenkitcar.co.uk
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Peteff
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| posted on 23/5/13 at 08:22 AM |
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Some here that might do for practising on if he has any left.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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rf900rush
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| posted on 23/5/13 at 09:21 AM |
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I get bits occasionally from Ebay
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Ringwood-Metal-Fabrication?_trksid=p2047675.l
2563
probably no the cheapest source but convenient.
Even DIY anodized it.
 
Slave
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Theshed
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| posted on 23/5/13 at 09:24 AM |
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Apart from big stuff I buy most of my aluminium as offcuts from ebay. I prefer using 7075T6 as it is tough stuff (a technical term!) and machines
really well. There is usually loads of stuff on ebay because modern CNC machines all use bar feeders and they cannot feed the last 4 inches or so.
"Bar ends" is a useful search term.
Once you find a depth of cut/speed/feed that suits a given tool/material my suggestion is to write it down somewhere. After a while you will have a
record of what works for your lathe.
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mcerd1
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| posted on 23/5/13 at 12:05 PM |
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I mostly use 6082 T6 aswell (design massive structures with it at work too)
the T6 heat treatment gives it some good strength - close to mild steel! (although all alloy is only 1/3 the stiffness)
and it good for anodising too 
also consider 6063 for lower strength stuff
When I can't find a cheap offcut I've used these guys a few time now and always found them really helpful:
http://www.nogginend.com/product/Aluminium-6082-Bundles (they are often at stoneleigh)
they stock a good range of materials and grades - I've made loads of replacement bushes from alloy, steel, stainless, brass, lead bronze and
Graphite Filled PTFE and those guys stock all of them and sell them in short lenghts 
[Edited on 23/5/2013 by mcerd1]
[Edited on 23/5/2013 by mcerd1]
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