GamblerGORD53

I want rear drop-outs that have zero resemblance to anything pre-formed.
On Friday I found a place to CNC metal for a reasonable cost.
I also got for free some 3/16" "mild steel" ,which is used in construction, that is made to bend before breaking. It is called 836 or A36 and has minimal carbon and other additives, so it seems rather soft.

Does anybody know where I can find something better ? 2 or 3 pieces about 5 inches sq.
Thanks.

unterhausen

I would say McMaster-Carr, but they will not ship to you. I don't know if one of the online metals suppliers would ship. I'm not sure if it's worth going to 4130, there are some high carbon steel strips that might work and would be available at any steel supply house.

Sixty Fiver

We have a lot of metal suppliers in yeg, lots of fabrication shops will have scrap they would probably give you for free.

JohnDThompson 

Mild steel is a good thing for dropouts, as this allows you to align them properly and resist breakage in use.

GamblerGORD53

Thanks for your suggestions. So maybe what i have is OK. Maybe I can cut a piece off and test it.

Scooper

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty sells 9" x 9" 4130 in .125" ($13.25), .190" ($16.25), and .250" ($23.75) thicknesses.

MassiveD

yeah, in 3/16" I would be going to 4130. And aircraft spruce sells it in Canada out of Brantford airport.

One thing to check is that if they are using a heat cutting process whether that will do anything. Plasma for instance can both burn and harden some metals. Laser? Waterjet should be OK. I am thinking here about using 4130 and heat. I thought 3140 and even heavier metal might be require for a Rohloff type installation since it twists the tab in the slot.


Anyone know a CNC shop in east side Toronto. I contacted a few, and even with the DXF files supplies it would be cheaper to just buy a Sachs.

unterhausen

I think you might possibly be unhappy with the lowest grade steel for a dropout if the hubs are nutted. The nuts tend to hog out the dropouts and it gets really hard to make the wheel sit in place.

Canaboo

Metal Supermarkets. Go there and pick up what you need from the scrap bin. Some of the stores have CNC cutting capability.

Sixty Fiver

Being local I can tell you that in this city, finding the suitable grade and plate is not going to be an issue here.

Could probably scrape up some plate stock at our frame shop as we often have to fabricate new dropouts for bicycles that come in.

GamblerGORD53

Metal supermarket said they never had 3/16 and only the tubes are 4130.
If I could choose, I would make it 7/32 thick.

fietsbob

any welding and steel fabricating shop.

MassiveD

By the by, do shops have 4140, and what is the difference? Other than the 10 points.

Canaboo

Metal Supermarkets carries 4140. Not sure what the difference is since I don't use steel. Likely carbon content.

fietsbob

SAE 4140 alloys Mo,Cr,Si, P, S, C, & Mn with Fe of course..

Scooper

4140 has a higher percentage of carbon than 4130, and is a little harder. The last two digits in the SAE-AISI designation indicate the carbon content in hundredths of a percent.



Alloying of Steels

ksisler

One could use the 3/16" thickness and braze it up double to get thicker that 1/4" if needed??

Live Wire 

Taking a wild guess here, I'm thinking you don't build bikes.