Where to buy a big chunk of 6061-T6 or 7075 aluminum bar?

Off-topic
1

Yeah… I know a lot of guys on this forum have built some amazing unicycles, and most likely other hardware as well, that is why I am asking on a Unicycle forum.

I recently got a gift from a friend. An older Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 2 fork.

The problem… press in crow… worn out, VERY badly. The Stanchions wobble like crazy, to the point you can pull the fork out of the crown :astonished:

Needless to say, Marzocchi wants to charge more than the fork even costs, to repair it… so why even bother? I’ll just find one online, I’m sure you can buy them separate right? Wrong.

So I opened up AutoCAD and started doing some designs for a fork crown… got one I liked, but then I realized, oh wow, I need about an 8" long SOLID piece of high tensile aluminum thats about 2.5"x4"… oh crap…

Either way, I asked my Manufacturing teacher from last year if I could use the mill during lunch and his spare period when I get a design made. He approved because he always doubts I can make things, and he’s always wrong… though I’m not sure if we have proper sized bits to do it, so I might have to take it to a shop and ask nicely if they can enlarge some holes for me :stuck_out_tongue:

Also, I’m basically converting this fork from press in trashy-whore crown, to a pinch bolt crown so if it wears and starts to creak… or shudder wobble… then I can grease it again and tighten up the bolts some more to prevent it.

Please don’t start a debate on how “Dangerous” this is. I E-Mailed Marzocchi directly, they basically told me don’t ride the fork you can die, don’t modify it or it will ruin the strength integrity of the fork… what strength? The damned stanchions slide out morons.

They stopped E-Mailing me when I sent them my drawing. I guess they’re re-thinking their forks? Nah doubt it, then they would last too long and they would lose money.

2

These folks have a one foot chunk of 2.5"x4" 6061-T6 aluminum for $52.

McMaster-Carr has it as part number 8975K326 for $76.

You’re in Canada. I can’t remember what the Canadian equivalent of McMaster-Carr is. Maybe you could find a surplus or recycled metal outlet in Hamilton or Toronto.

3

Also, please resize your images so we don’t have to scroll to see it or read the text.

4

I have no idea where to get the aluminum but I was wondering how you were going to clamp the stanchions with your design, are you planning on threading the aluminum or are you going to have a nut recessed in there somehow? If you had the slot on the side instead of the back it might be easier to make and will likely pinch more evenly around the stanchion.

Good luck and post some picks when you are done!

5

Yeah, I am hoping to buy stuff in Canada, tomorrow if I get around to it, I’m going to go to the local metal shop and see what they have. Last time I went there I got 6 feet of 3/4" square steel tubing for $4, but it was the ONLY piece they had…

Resize? That’s from my Laptop… 1280x800… I use a bigger display on my desktop, that image looks small… 1680x1050 on the desktop. I can’t resize it now anyways, just buy a decent sized monitor… 17"+, then you won’t need to scroll, and you’ll have a lot more screen real estate to use.

I am indeed going to tap the holes to clamp the stanchions, going to use a larger bolt though, so it doesn’t strip out easily. And a nut/bolt like bearing caps for the steerer tube.

6

Nothing like simple, selfish arrogance to solve a problem. Everyone else on RSU buys a suitable monitor so you don’t have to resize your images to 640 pixels in width. Can we mail you cash, too?

7

Get real, it’s not that hard to do. If you’re a Registered Moron, you of course get a hall pass. Otherwise, go download some freeware resizing help such as IrfanView and show some basic consideration to your fellow community members.

Or do you need that hall pass?

8

assuming everyone is on 1680x1050 is pretty stupid… you do realise that most 19" are on 1280x1024 maybe 1440 16:10, but you need a 20" or 22" to get 1680x1050. Now your an idiot if you think everyone is gonna get one of those.

But it doesnt really seem worth it (talking about the fork) since you can get the spare for 76$. Mind you if you just want to do it for a laugh then good luck.

9

i’ve got a 19" widescreen and i still have to scroll to see all that image. sorry if my screen isnt big enough for you.

10

Yes, and some people(like yours truly) use laptops for browsing the internet. It was very irritating having to scroll back and forth to read the text.

And tell your manufacturing teacher I said hi.

11

Wow, stop filling my thread with shit, I said I can’t fucking change it now.

I don’t moan when people post 1920x1200 pictures.

12

Once again, I can’t edit.

Sorry for exploding, but seriously… I don’t need 6 people to say resize my image when clearly it’s too late.

I use my laptop to browse too, I just right click and view image if it’s too large.

Please don’t add anymore unhelpful posts.

Now, how about a place in Canada to buy aluminum bar? 2.5"x4" 6061-T6 or higher grade.

13

Viewing the image is not so much of a problem, but reading the text is a pain.

And please restrict the use of language to that which is deemed socially appropriate among educated men and not pubicating teenagers.

14


Annoying, isn’t it?

15

Here’s what happened here. You asked for a source of aluminum bar. I researched it for you and gave you two sources and included their prices. Then I politely asked you to resize your images. Apparently you thought I meant the image you posted in this thread. It was too late to resize that image because your post editing option had timed out. I knew that. I just didn’t want you to post over sized images in the future so forum users wouldn’t have to go to any trouble to view them. Your response to this was that I buy a different monitor to view your images. I responded that this was a somewhat self-centered solution. You blew up for no reason.

After someone provides the sources that you request and then asks that you modify your posts to benefit the community you get cranky and arrogant. Can we expect behavior like this from you in the future? Get a grip.

16

I realize this, and accept the fact. I’m used to posting images on computer related forums… where most people sink lots of money into their computers.

Also, most posts I have made on this forum with images are 1024x768. Which is small. 640x480 is ridiculous. I’ll stick to uploading to Photobucket.

I guess since idiots like Edd are going to keep posting trash I’ll just ask the thread be locked, because obviously some people are just going to keep posting crap, much like every other thread on this forum.

No that image is not annoying. You’re just a contributing problem.

EDIT: I forgot, Gilby doesn’t ever fix posts I report, so I won’t even bother, I’ll just stop viewing this thread.

17

Try Peckover’s (ThyssenKrupp Materials NA) in Concord for non-ferrous metals. Another source is ASA Alloys in Etobicoke. These guys should be able to provide aluminum bar stock in a variety of alloys.

Sorry we’re not up to your standards. I would think a high-tech guy like you might be able to find bar stock aluminum on his own. I like the sequence, “I guess since idiots like Edd are going to keep posting trash…” Edd is no idiot and who’s posting trash here?

18

I think what most people are saying is stick to this “ridiculous” size because it is the only size I can view without scrolling side to side.

1024x769 is larger than the resolution of every monitor that I use, sorry I cant afford to upgrade.

But please do post some picks of this project when you are done.

19

I spent a good while searching, maybe I was searching with the wrong words, it happens. Thanks though, these places look good, shipping from south of the border is just annoying with duty fees and such.

I was finding places like Metal Supermarkets, and places that want accounts and minimum orders.

Of course.

20

Then why do you not know how to resize an image. you can even use paint to resize images

time for overeaction