[hpv] Framebuilding Steel (the end)
tony hunter
to myself and to the list have been MOST helpful. FWIW, I have decided to
go with a thinner-wall, larger-diameter tubing.
My intentions are to use cheap, but good, steel to build prototypes. As
one responder said, for the prices I am paying I can build literally a
dozen bikes and have a blast. If we ever stumble across a design we like
then I sure would try it out of a lightweight, stiff steel. But why waste
a whole lot of money until we "know better." A few pounds more in a frame,
compared the the extra poundage I carry in my AeroTummy, ain't nothing to
sweat.
While doing a web search for metal resellers I ran across several small
businesses that sell steel by the inch. At prices about 5-8 times what I
am going to pay. Since this one company in particular seems to be growing
quite steadily I assume there is a market for this service. But at these
prices, 25-45 cents AN INCH, I have to wonder if procuring steel tubing is
a real problem elsewhere.
What kinds of prices are other framebuilders, amateurs, paying for common
steel tubing? If you have some current prices I would be interested in
knowing, please e-mail me directly.
Tony Hunter
William J. Cook
>What kinds of prices are other framebuilders, amateurs, paying for common
>steel tubing? If you have some current prices I would be interested in
>knowing, please e-mail me directly.
I know you asked about common steel. But since you were being quoted high
prices for it, I thought I'd pass along some prices for chromoly.
Here are a few examples of 4130 prices from Dillsburg Aeroplane Works, 114
Sawmill Road, Dillsburg, PA 17019. 717-432-4589. Dillsburg caters to bike,
airplane, and race car builders. Ships UPS, COD until you establish credit.
No credit cards.
One-inch .035 4130: $2.20 a foot in short lengths. Less for longer lengths.
One-half-inch .035 4130: $1.65 a foot in short lengths.
1.5-inch .035 4130: $3.20 a foot.
William J. Cook, bc...@clark.net, 202-955-2493
Senior Writer, U.S.News & World Report
1050 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
Warren Block
> Here are a few examples of 4130 prices from Dillsburg Aeroplane Works, 114
> Sawmill Road, Dillsburg, PA 17019. 717-432-4589. Dillsburg caters to bike,
> airplane, and race car builders. Ships UPS, COD until you establish credit.
> No credit cards.
>
> One-inch .035 4130: $2.20 a foot in short lengths. Less for longer lengths.
> One-half-inch .035 4130: $1.65 a foot in short lengths.
> 1.5-inch .035 4130: $3.20 a foot.
Aircraft Spruce (http://www.aircraft-spruce.com) is a little cheaper on
all of these, and does take credit cards.
-Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota USA