Where to buy Aluminum Bronze ingot

Twalsh341 · Post by **Twalsh341** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:10 am

Hey all,
I'm looking for a place to buy small quantities (10-20lbs) of copper or aluminum bronze ingots (copper so I can make aluminum bronze) Which places supply in small quantities like this? or should I just scrounge an collect scrap?

Thanks
Trevor

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:02 am

Online Metals has
C630 ALUMINUM BRONZE ROD
C642 ALUMINUM BRONZE ROD

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cf ... op_cat=850

Steve

Twalsh341 · Post by **Twalsh341** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:09 pm

OnlineMetals does have aluminum bronze, but I don't want to pay for dimensional stock when I'm going to melt it down. Extra money for no reason. Does anyone know of a place that sells ingots? or where do most of you get your cupric alloys for casting? Scrap plumbing?

Trevor

Fender · Post by **Fender** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:15 pm

Plumbers are a good source of scrap copper when they replace frozen/corroded pipes. Everything I make is from scrap, but it's all for my own use and no cert is required. But I've never tried to make Al bronze!

steamin10 · Post by **steamin10** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:31 pm

Ya, I scrounge for metals, and copper plumbing and heavy wire are first rate. You have to melt the highest temperature metal first and then commit proper weights of lesser metals to get your blended alloy. Pour your piece , and pig the rest. MARK YOUR PIG with a chisel or punch with your created alloy %. For Copper based alloys you melt the copper first, and add the other components. Aluminum bronze has a high percentage of iron, that can be stirred in as small turnings. Dont use steel. The aluminum will dissolve the iron. The carbon will float out and skin.