Reynolds Tubing Source in Sydney

[ROSS BROWN]

SORRY ABOUT THE RANTING

TRY BLACKWOODS
44.5 x 3.2 PART NUMBER 01351955
Theres a branch in every capital city

ADVERTISED AS cold drawn steel seamless tube or cold drawn welded
TS34 (K1020) GRADE

[teamleader]

So Rob, all this discussion brings us neatly back to annealed hydraulic tube which is low carbon, seamless and readily available in the specified sizes from Van Leeuwin. It's not the cheapest steel tubing on the market though, but it is a quality product - the question is answered.

Thank's for your comments here Ross, I find all of them very helpful.
All doubts and objections people raised about a chassis and cage structure built of hydraulic tube have been eliminated for me. I again move forward in my build with confidence.

[Rob]

No need to apologise for anything Ross, it's hard to gauge a mood from text only and I wasn't stressing. Thanks for the Blackwoods heads up, I went to their online catalog and it's listed as CDW. I'll give them a ring in a bit.

TL
The size and material are correct, I'm waiting for a fax from them RE its mechanical properties to make sure it's adequate.

As a benchmark, cold drawn welded per Performance Metals web page has the following mechanical properties:

Yield strength of 70ksi (480MPa.)
Tensile strength is 80ksi (550MPa)
Rockwell hardness RB80

[David Leikvold]

Rob, I went into a Blackwoods in Brisbane when I was on the same mission as you a couple of years ago and just got blank looks when I asked for the steel. They couldn't even give me a price. It seems not all their stores keep tube or pipe, so you may have to hunt around or wait or both. Good luck.

Cheers
Dave

[Rob]

I just got off the phone with Blackwoods,

They don't stock it but said they can get it in. The guy was quite helpful but also told me it'll cost me a bomb. Turns out a bomb costs $272 + gst for a 6.3m length, 44.45 x 3mm. He also said I should buy direct from their supplier as they are quite close to me... Bond Rollbars.

When I spoke to Bond a couple of weeks ago they told me I'd be lucky to find any in the country and they only import what they need. They were quite helpful otherwise and offered advice on the cage, bends etc. even though I'd told them I was building it myself.

Teamleader

In the absence of a fax from Leeuwen I looked up A179M spec seamless tube from other manufacturers and found the following specs:
Tensile Strength (min) 350Mpa
Yield Strength (min) 235Mpa

On another manufacturers site:
Tensile Strength 325MPa
Yield Strength 180MPa

Both these are substantially lower than CDW as listed earlier.

Cheers,
Rob

Cheers,
Rob

[David Leikvold]

Rob, have you considered going to 50mm tube instead? I'll bet that would be easier to find and, because of that, probably no dearer than the unobtainium alloy tube you're looking for now. I know that's not a perfect solution but it might be the simplest one.

Cheers
Dave

[Rob]

G'day Dave,

My first question has simply been if they sell seamless mild steel tubing, if I get a no to that, size is a moot point.

I'd debated upping the ante to 50mm for the added strength as larger diameter gives a much greater strength increase than increasing wall thickness. Ultimately I decided if 44.45 isn't strong enough I'll probably not survive

Cheers,
Rob

[BONES]

Rob
try a place in Sydney called D.S McCulla in Alexandria
They keep a lot of stock. DO NOT GO AT LUNCHTIME-they will not serve you,and only take cash.They are a bit strange but do have a lot of stock
cheers Bones

[Stayt`ie]

Annealed Hydralic tube,,, read "Annealed", = tubing is soft ,,, "normalised" is the way to go

[Rob]

Thanks Bones,

I rang Bonds today to find out why I can buy at Blackwoods but they don't want to sell direct to me. No answer so perhaps they're taking advantage of the long weekend.

I have a lead for Tuesday closer to home but will try them if I do no good. I think I remember you mentioning their lunchtime "service" a long time back.


ASTM 179 or A179 is the annealed stuff used for hydraulic line tube, boiler tube etc.

ASTM 519 or A519 is at least twice the strength and used for mechanical engineering purposes including hydraulic ram bodies. This also covers seamless alloy tubing. Be aware that a range of steel compounds are used to this standard. I have been looking at 1020 and 1026.

As an average, annealed CDS reportedly has just over 50% the yield and tensile strengths of the same material nomalised.

Based on the current rulebook both are legal. It is solely my preference to use seamless tube and the stronger mechanical tube.

Cheers,
Rob

[BIG GAZ]

Rob,
Bones' tip on McCulla's is spot on. I bought 1 x 6m x 50.8mm CDS @ $186.00 per length and 4 x 6m x 44.5mm @ $144.00 per length plus GST back in July 2006 for the Jag. I don't have a lot left over. There phone number is 02 9698 2959.
It cuts and welds nicely with the TIG or the MIG and was easy to bend with a mandrel bender and doesn't rust too quick. I know I have gone overboard with the size and amount of tubing but that is what I do!
BIG GAZ

[blownvn]

Rob,
Bones' tip on McCulla's is spot on. I bought 1 x 6m x 50.8mm CDS @ $186.00 per length and 4 x 6m x 44.5mm @ $144.00 per length plus GST back in July 2006 for the Jag. I don't have a lot left over. There phone number is 02 9698 2959.
It cuts and welds nicely with the TIG or the MIG and was easy to bend with a mandrel bender and doesn't rust too quick. I know I have gone overboard with the size and amount of tubing but that is what I do!
BIG GAZ

A bit of OVAKIL hey Gary, LOL

[Rob]

Thanks Gary,

I didn't get a chance to call last week but will do so tomorrow.

I should think I'll have the same amount of tubeing in the Soarer, possibly more. Who's to say it's too much if it's you butt on the seat.

Do you know what grade tube it is?

Cheers,
Rob

[Rob]

Got onto Steve at McCullas yesterday, their CDS is 350MPa (yield strength minimum).

CDS 50.8 x 3.25 wall is $221.40 +GST per length ex-stock
CDS 44.5 x 3.25 wall is $201.60 +GST per length ex-stock

A length is approximately 6m but they vary.

Delivery $48 +GST

Payment via bank deposit for deliverys and they will deliver the day after the $$ is confirmed in their account.

As an aside, I have also found out that A519 spec tubing is too stiff to bend and will split.

Thanks to everyone who helped along the way.

Cheers,
Rob

[PeterB]

G'day Rob,

The "young fella", Dave, mentioned to me last night that he had a source for CDS tube and asked me for your number ...... stand by the phone

Cheers,

Pete