[Amps] Sourcing Sheet Aluminum and Antenna tubing

[John Wilson]

In the UK Smith's metals (www.smithmetal.com), although really a 
wholesaler, will also supply relatively small quantities of Ally to 
credit card buyers.  They do have 1/2 inch 18 SWG (Imperial) drawn 
tubing (6082) but it's frightfully expensive when compared to 16 SWG 
extruded.6082 (Think it was almost twice the price).  As my Yagi was 
only a 6 ele and I come from Yorkshire I went for the 16 SWG however I 
now pay the price every time the darn thing goes up up in a contest. 

So, does anybody know if this price difference is to do with the 
supplier or is it to do with the manufacturing process?.

John G3UUT


DAVE WHITE wrote:
> For those in England, A.S.C. Metals in Lincoln are a good source of cheap-ish offcuts. They have sheet materials and aluminium angle and tubing.  It's possible to get things a lot cheaper cash in hand when the boss is there!
> Maddeningly, however, 17 gauge .058" wall hard drawn tubing for antennas is impossible to find around here ... unless someone knows a UK source?  
> cheersDave G0OIL
>
> --- On Wed, 15/9/10, Roger <sub1 at rogerhalstead.com> wrote:
>
> From: Roger <sub1 at rogerhalstead.com>
> Subject: Re: [Amps] Sourcing Sheet Aluminum
> To: amps at contesting.com
> Date: Wednesday, 15 September, 2010, 4:45
>
>
>
> On 9/14/2010 11:37 PM, Patrick Barthelow wrote:
>   
>> Another post on the reflector recently asked about best alloys of aluminum to use in Ham/Amp related projects, a good question, that
>> I dont know the answer to, just that  I remember T-6 alloy  is hard stuff.
>>     
> It may be hard but it's relatively easy to form, holds its shape, and is 
> strong. It is used to form not only aircraft skins, but aircraft skins 
> that serve as  structural members, or individual structure members 
> themselves. It's also relatively easy to tap, or press screw heads into 
> it...again I've forgotten the name of them.  With skill the stuff can 
> even be formed into complex shapes, but that's beyond most of us here.
>
>
> Too often people choose much softer grades that are easily scratched 
> and  deformed.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
>
>   
>> This is a tip to source sheet aluminum cheaply.  Find your local Dep of Public Works, the Road Maintenance crew.  Go directly to their coporation yard, or ask for their forman over the phone.  Tell them you are a ham looking for some aluminum for a Hombrew project, and ask it they have any discarded road signs.  It has been my experience that there is ofen a stack of old signs somewhere off in a corner of the shop, that never gets forwarded to recycling or whatever.  The foreman, if he is a ncie guy, on a good day, may simply direct youto the aluminum pile or old sign stack in the back, and say take what you want.  Leave him off a six pack of soft drinks or 807s an he will be your friend for a long time.    It is amazing how big a stop sign is when it is set on your workbench.  The signs' paint  I saw were usually pretty old, and weathered, but the aluminum was often very good shape.  Unfortunately so far is is usually hard and brittle so
>>     
>  won't bend well, but, the sheet siz
>  es
>   
>>     are substantial and the price is right.  A little polishing or orbital sanding will get the aluminum to a nice surface sheen, and perfectly usable.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> 73, de Pat Barthelow AA6EG  apolloeme at live.com
>> http://www.cq-vhf.com/vhf_highlights/2010_vhf/2010_summer_vhf/2010_summer_vhf_echoes_barthelow.pdf
>>
>>
>>         MOONBOUNCE                                 YURI'S NIGHT
>>
>>
>>
>>                            
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>
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