Small Steel Strip

[gwrdriver]

Does anyone know of a source for mild steel strip in 1/8", 5/32", 3/16" and 1/4" widths in 16ga or 18g? A friend here on an extended stay from overseas wants to continue to make progress on a project but doesn't want to have to cut up tobacco tins to do it.

[Pipescs]

For that gauge you should be able to go to any local fab shop and have them shear the sizes you mentioned. That is, as long as they have kept their sheer blades good and sharp so that you don't get a bad rollover on the edge.

[Marty_Knox]

Harry, what you are looking for is called 'flat wire'. I wish I knew of a source - the ones I used in the past have closed up.

[cbrew]

sounds like a good project for a laser cutter also,
I also have looked for sources and come up empty handed.

[gwrdriver]

He's decided to use brass strip, which will do fine as it's for non-wearing details. His experience (and mine) with local shop shearing of this kind of strip has been awful.

[cbrew]

He's decided to use brass strip, which will do fine as it's for non-wearing details. His experience (and mine) with local shop shearing of this kind of strip has been awful.

ok,, that is why i suggested laser, at 16 gauge, the edges are beautiful and not rolled over.
we are doing this for the raised detail on two Diesel we are building.

[gwrdriver]

Thanks, I'll pass that suggestion along.

[Rich_Carlstedt]

Two sources for flat wire...
Your old windshield wiper blades have steel (SS) inserts that you should remove when tossing old ones.
A visit to a car dealer or repair shop may add to quantities needed.
These wires are generally .125 or .156 by .028 to .032 in thickness and 14 to 26 inches long

Street Sweepers use metal blades (carbon steel) that are .125 x .028" and approximately 32 inches long ( they fold them in the brushes) A visit to your city garage will yield broken brushes for scrap.
These are readily straightened out with a torch.
Rich

PS
A friend contacted the wire manufacturer in southern Wisconsin and was able to buy 10 pounds reasonably.
I use the metal to make scale foot boards for my Caboose


Had an article in Modeltec on the construction method

[FLtenwheeler]

I think this is the web page

http://www.wimetals.com/steelwire.htm

They sell small quantities to HOBBYIST & ARTIST.

What size did you use on the roof walk?

Tim

[FLSTEAM]

Don't know how you did that but it sure looks great,,,,,,,

John B.

[Rich_Carlstedt]

.............

What size did you use on the roof walk?

Tim

Made with .125 x .028 street sweeper brushes.
Found some in the local mall parking lot when the sweeper ran into a curb and shattered his brush
Picked up several hundred scattered in the lot
Made a jig to bend the zigzags
and another fixture to hold the stack while being silver soldered

Rich