Why is it so hard to find materials in the UK?

[Martin BrundellParticipant @martinbrundell]

I have been looking to buy some grade 2 Titanium tube at 38mm (1 1/2) and 31.75mm (1 1/2) with a wall thickness of 3mm (approx) and boy what a job it’s turned out to be. No one (apart from a firm who want £140 a metre for grade 9) seems to have any in the UK. A friend got some 31.75mm ti earlier this year for approx £35 a metre which was a good price.

 

So then I started looking at high grade aluminium e.g the same OD with a slightly higher wall thickness in 7075-T6 aluminium and I hit the same wall…

 

Now of you go to China, USA, Germany, Russia and any number of smaller Countries you can get it – but not the UK.

 

Does anyone know of a decent supplier for either of these? I initially need a few metres for stress/pressure testing then a bigger order.

 

thanks

[Martin BrundellParticipant @martinbrundell]

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Try Ti-Tek at Birmingham, they will sell you exactly what you want to the inch – provided they can get it.

 

John S.

[Rob keevesParticipant @robkeeves73950]

Try

Aviation Metals Ltd Michigan Drive Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK15 8J 01908 210012   Always willing to help me.

[David Southwell ARPSParticipant @davidsouthwellarps]

I lived & worked in California for a number of years. There most stockists in Ca have an offcuts display adjacent to their sales counter and do not have a minimum purchase order when you are collecting. The offcuts section generates good custom.This makes it easy to pick up small quantities of practically any material you need.

 

UK stockists are very reluctant to do this for some reason I cannot understand. It seems to be something to do with a prevailing culture in the trade.

 

David

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

They are not all reluctant to sell bar ends, plenty to choose from here

 

http://www.metalfast.co.uk/offcuts%20and%20bar%20ends.htm

 

J

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Every one of my suppliers sell bar ends ?

 

Rang ASC Metals up at Lincoln on Friday for two bars of 2″ x 3/4″ 6061 for a job and I need a bit of 6″ x 1/2″ but nowhere near a full length of 4 metres.

 

They checked the computer and had a piece 1.2 metres which will be fine for what I want, being delivered, Monday am.

 

Forgot to mention in the previous post Ti-Tek only do titanium, I make pump shaft for Ferric Chloride tanks and Titanium is the only metal it won’t eat. I buy 30mm diameter by 350mm long one piece at a time as needed because of cost, again sent thru the post next day.

 

Can’t speak highly enough of them.

 

John S.

Edited By John Stevenson on 13/08/2011 13:44:16

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

I have found West Yorkshire Steels Wetherby very helpful.

 

Windy

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

For some time the foriegn products have been a bit suspect.

My son works for an Underwater Gas and Oil exploration company and sources materiel and finished items from many sources.

Some stainless steel pipe and elbows were fitted into the high pressure air system in an engine room and subsequently and elbow exploded, luckily no one was injured as my son had just left the engine room!

The investigation returned the fact that the source of the elbows was from an unknown source and they were all suspect even though a certificate of conformation had been issued!

Another example was a Stainless steel ‘U’ shackle rated at 7 tonne which sheared showing crystalline fracture. Again from an unknown source with again a certificate of conformation on it.

This has made my son very careful where the suppliers get their goods from.

It was surmised they were from Chinese sources but they could not verify where they came from.

take care with imported materiel.

This brings to mind the tade in fake aircraft spares, all found to be lacking and dangereous.

 

Clive

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Why is it so hard to find materials in the UK?

 

Because we’re rapidly becoming a manufacturing also-ran. Our local metal supplier here is doing nothing like the business he was three years ago. People are now often having to turn to suppliers that aren’t exactly local to them any more, and for the country as a whole, this doesn’t bode too well, I’d say. And when you look at the price hike there’s been on a lot of raw material (especially anything containing copper), it’s not too difficult to see why a lot of small firms are simply giving up – they can’t compete at all.

 

I think that’s enough doom and gloom for one day!

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

I am no businessman but speaking as a customer, it seems to me that It used to be that retailers, in particular hardware shops and the like, would keep comprehensive stocks of materials for years, not only to hopefully make a profit but to provide a full service to their customers (who would no doubt return if they received good service). Such businesses are now as rare as hens’ teeth, having been absorbed into or wiped out by large national and international outfits who, whatever their PR might say, have as their priority the creation of profit. Customer service/satisfaction is of secondary consideration if of any consideration at all. In my last two visits to B&Q, the oft quoted refrain, “If it’s not on the shelf, we haven’t got it”, applied. What did I require? Turpentine (the real stuff) and a 40mm plastic waste elbow.

 

Does anyone remember Edwin Penny’s hardware store in Enfield?

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Thats why every engineer keeps a scrap bin on the off chance he will need a specific piece of metal.

I think its being called being a ‘Magpie’, sheds full of useful junk!

 

Clive

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Spot on Clive. Of course it doesn’t end with the scrap bin does it? How about all those useful lengths of timber, used but good condition nuts, bolts, screws etc . Pots of paint where only 1/3 has been used, lengths of rope, bits of cable, containers ejected from the kitchen but seen as of possible use in the workshop……………..I could go on and on. I am very in tune with this as I am at present in the midst of a clear up but one thing is absolutely certain. When I have decided on all the things I don’t need and taken them to the tip I can guarantee that within a few days I will find a use for most of it! ( even though it had been “lost” for years)

 

Regards

Norman ( Magpie)

Edited By NJH on 14/08/2011 11:16:56

[Donald LunnParticipant @donaldlunn12212]

I have a small but dwindling stock of various metal,it is very difficult to obtain odds and ends to keep up the stock.One time you could walk into a scrapyard and pick over what they had,but now they don’t even want you in there,unless you are selling them, some scrap.So probably from now on, when i decide on a specific project, i will just bite the bullet and buy the metal to build it.Who knows i might even get some offcuts from it !!

 

Regards

Don (Another Magpie)

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

The trouble is I’ve got two shedsfull of useful junk in my shed.

[JonParticipant @jon]

Agree Ti-Tek probably best for TI in Midlands.

Also have an account with ASC but can go in and have a look around for stainless’s and alums, the wall by the saws usually stacked high with off cuts.

 

Bay prices seem horrendous especially when adding postage on. Reckon on there gone about 60% the last 6 months. Used to buy short 1 and 2M lengths off there, now i will always go to ASC 5 mile away and buy full lengths have them middled so can get in car, free.

 

If you have too much junk you can never find what you want, draw the line some where.

 

Wish i could salvage the swarf but takes up way too much rooom even after three days.

 

 

[Martin BrundellParticipant @martinbrundell]

Thanks for all the suggestions – I will get onto them tomorrow.

 

[JonParticipant @jon]

Better to pop in Martin ring the bell.

Northampton

Peterborough

Wolvo

Lowestoft

http://www.ascmetals.co.uk

Just had a look at a certain size of aluminium by a co advertising on here, shocked almost 4 times cheaper at ASC.

 

I would also be interested in other companies selling aluminium 6082T6 at a reasonable price. Looking for 5 1/4″ round 14 to 16mm thick x 60 off dreading the price this year knowing its all gone up.

[AESParticipant @aes]

Re material suppliers:

I have had excellent service from Noggin End Metals of Stoke on Trent. The prices are very competitive for small quantities & off cuts, etc. He is only open for personal visits by appointment but often trades at various shows and has a very efficient mail order service.

Usual disclaimers.

Web site (with catalogue and contact) at:

http://nogginend.com/index.htm

Quote from the homepage:

QUOTE:

 

Aluminium, Brass, Bronze, Cast Iron, Copper, Silver Steel, Stainless Steel, Engineering Plastic. Exotic Materials including:

EN24T High Tensile Steel, 2014 (HE15) High Tensile Aluminium (Dural), Titanium, Colsibro and Colphos.

UNQUOTE:

He’s always been open to finding “special” stuff every time I’ve asked too.

Hope this helps

Krgds
AES
 

Edited By AES on 15/08/2011 09:03:02

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Jon on 14/08/2011 15:17:04:

http://www.ascmetals.co.uk

Just had a look at a certain size of aluminium by a co advertising on here, shocked almost 4 times cheaper at ASC.

 

 

 

Well just got my 3/4″ x 2″ delivered £42 for a 4m length plus £7.50 delivery plus the dreaded VAT so £59.40

 

The same company who advertise here wants £58.51 for ONE metre, so as Jon says 4 times dearer.

 

John S.

[JonParticipant @jon]

Postage on that is quite cheap John, personally i wouldnt mind if it took 4 days for that.

May have got it for £30 if gone in but lost downtime like myself.

 

1 1/4″ round 6082T6 used to be £32 for 4M length direct last year and for years, interesting how much it will have gone up.

The cut to size is pretty good as well on price. Usually have round cut 14 to 16mm thick 5 1/4″ x 16 £5.29 ea for 30 off as at November, 4 1/2″ x 18mm thick £3.60 ea for 30 off said double it. Had 30 off 5″ as well sub £4 ea.

Largely dependant upon the sales person, i have paid a lot more from same place for years.

One such national company with an A in the name i used to buy alum by the tonne wanted £10 ea for 4″ dia x 13mm thick back in 93.

Any other cheap suppliers let us know.

 

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Jon on 15/08/2011 13:53:29:

Postage on that is quite cheap John, personally i wouldnt mind if it took 4 days for that.

May have got it for £30 if gone in but lost downtime like myself.

 

 

 

 

That’s not postage, that was truck delivery, they deliver everyday to this area, Notts / Derby / Leicester.

 

It’s £7.50 regardless if i want one tiny cut of piece or 20 lengths.

I dare say other trucks do different areas.

If I get an order in for about 3:30pm, I’ll get it next day. The order delivered today was phoned in Friday Afternoon

 

John S.

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