I am wanting to make a locking devise for a decklid similar to one that I have seen recently. However, it involves cutting a piece of aluminum stock that is about 1"X5" in size. It is difficult to explain just how the cuts are made, but I am trying to find out where I can purchase small chunks of aluminum to make a template or final product out of. I don't recall seeing anything like I want at Home Depot, Lowe's or such. I could make it out of other metals, but it would then be overkill with the weight. Where do I get chunks of aluminum to play about with? Thanks, Huey
you can also look in your phonebook yellow pages for steel supply companies in your town or area, as well as machine shops/tool/die shops. They useually have what you are looking for...and more than likely will not even charge you for such a small piece.
I second the E-bay thing. I started loking there for another project, and the prices were 1/3 the "retail price" everyone advertised.
Place in Dallas just off of I35E and around Motor street. Metal Supermarket. They will cut any size you need from any size stock.
Yup. www.mcmcaster.com Try to find their samples of aluminum. They're cheap, around an inch or so in length, and come in almost any size. I would guess you would want 6061 aluminum.
Try the Trident Company: 405 N. Plano Rd. Richardson, TX. 75085-3900 Toll-Free: 800-527-4252 Voice: 972-231-5176 Fax: 972-889-1885 www.trident-metals.com I used to buy from them when I had a machine shop business in Irving. They had a "drop bin" you could dig through and usually find just what you needed. Buy it by the pound with no cutting charges, and they were open on Saturdays back then.
Try Enco. Last I checked they were a little cheaper than McMaster. They have stuff in lengths as small as a foot.
http://www.calaerosupply.com/ sells "surplus" metal, machining tools, rope, chain wiring, and fasteners "by the pound". I go there sometimes just to fondle the neat stuff. They also have what they call the "Ford tyrod end tap" available. For locals, they're on Paramount Blvd about a football field South of the 105 Freeway.
Sorry, I walked in and asked for it and they had it in a case behind the counter. I just found they had a website right now today. Maybe an old fashioned phone call is called for?
Thanks for all the indeas and input. The Plano shop looks to be fairly close. It is near a motorcycle shop I like to occassionally visit anyway, so I'll start out there. Thanks, Huey
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