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Post by ron on Oct 30, 2008 20:52:41 GMT
Hi Everybody
Can anyone point me in the direction of a supplier of CI blanks for making disc wheels, I'm looking for ones, finished size 3 7/8" over the treads X 9/16" thick or even a source of cast iron cut offs say 4 1/4" dia.
Ron
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Post by steamjohn248 on Oct 30, 2008 22:44:41 GMT
Why do you need to use cast iron blanks. EN8 steel discs cut from the bar by the supplier will be cheaper, just as easy to machine and will last a lot longer.
John
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Post by ron on Oct 31, 2008 9:05:40 GMT
OK, thanks.
Ron
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Post by baggo on Oct 31, 2008 9:25:55 GMT
Hi Ron,
I turned my driving trolley wheels from mild steel blanks from the local supplier (LSM). Cheap and easy enough. 4 blanks for the wheels and two for the brake discs cost about £14 including a small fee for cutting.
John
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Post by keith1500 on Oct 31, 2008 10:42:56 GMT
Hi Ron,
...and by using steel you'll get much better adhesion too !
Keith
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Post by pcplod on Oct 31, 2008 11:34:10 GMT
Hey Ron,
You told the world you'd got a brand new bandsaw - get cutting from a bit of bar!
Plod
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Post by ron on Oct 31, 2008 14:14:38 GMT
PcPlod Looking at the price of blanks it's not economically viable  Ron |
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Post by Nexuas on Oct 31, 2008 17:38:18 GMT
I made 40 off 70mm dia cast iron disc wheel blanks from a 2'6" length of cast iron bar, which I cut on my warco band saw, then turned up on the lathe, finally adding three holes with the milling machine and rotary table. A long process, but good to see a pile of wheels at the end. £75 for the bar compared to £25 for four wheel castings from Blackgates. (Although they have spokes)
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Post by chris vine on Oct 31, 2008 18:41:30 GMT
Hi Ron,
I think if you are using steel you should probably use EN1A as it machines very easily. not sure about en8. Isn't that quite tough??
Locally I have found that Kelvin steels are very competitive. Their saw cuts true to within about 10 thou....
Chris.
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Post by mutley on Oct 31, 2008 20:54:33 GMT
Hi Ron
EN1561 cast iron is £4.48 for 25mm of 110mm diameter from Live Steam Models. By comparison 100mm of 100mm diameter EN1A is approx £6.71 from the same source. I would buy the steel myself. Hope this helps.
Andy
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Post by steamjohn248 on Oct 31, 2008 22:38:13 GMT
I agree with Chris, EN8 is tough therefor a bit harder to machine but it'll do a great many more miles before you need to re profile your tyres. Suppose it depends on the sort of use you think your loco is going to get.
John
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Post by steamjohn248 on Oct 31, 2008 22:48:34 GMT
I agree with Chris, EN8 is tough therefor a bit harder to machine but it'll do a great many more miles before you need to re profile your tyres. Suppose it depends on the sort of use you think your loco is going to get.
John
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Post by mutley on Nov 1, 2008 8:41:01 GMT
EN8 is tough but not dificult to machine with tiped tooling. For a loco EN1A would be fine, for a riding trolley with higher loadings from oput of scale loads I would go with EN8. My clubs passenger trolleys wheels are made from EN1A and they wear quite quickly.
Andy
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Post by albert on Nov 1, 2008 9:26:38 GMT
Hello All,
For plain wheel blanks I would spin up a pattern out of MDF Board get them as smooth as possible with sand paper ,NO PAINT, and take it to my casting shop and ask for whatever I want. They come by the pound weight and pay in cash.They will only want a cleaning cut to finish.
Albert.
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Post by ettingtonliam on Nov 3, 2008 8:50:58 GMT
Albert
you have a foundry that still charges by weight? where is it?
Richard
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Post by albert on Nov 3, 2008 11:09:45 GMT
Hello Richard,
The firm is Manor Brass at Trent Road Boughton nr. Ollerton Notts. They also supply some of the commercial boys.Usual disclaimer
Not used by me but there is also another foundry at Whatstandwel near Matlock Derbys.
Albert.
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Post by jgb7573 on Nov 3, 2008 11:48:47 GMT
I used Wagstaffs in Poyle (just off the M25, near Heathrow) about 4 years ago and they were very reasonable and good quality. Usual disclaimer.
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Post by jgb7573 on Nov 3, 2008 12:10:16 GMT
Sorry, I should have made that clearer. Wagstaffs made the castings from my own MDF pattern. Making the pattern (spoked driving wheels) was an interesting exercise in its own right. However, if I wanted plain disk wheels, I'd go the mild steel route. The one problem I can see with using castings for a plain disk wheel is waiting to get them cast!
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Post by ron on Nov 3, 2008 12:27:04 GMT
Hi
Thanks to all who replied and particularly Chris, I've ordered steel blanks [EN1A] from Kelvin Steels, their price is very good and if they turn up when promised so is their service.
Ron
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Post by ilvaporista on Nov 3, 2008 13:18:28 GMT
Not suitable for the size you were looking for but I offer this as a tip in these troubled times.
Weights from dumbells or home weight training equipment are often made from CI. Avoid the ones which are covered in plastic. I found at out local hypermarket some 100mm dia 15mm thick ones which turned up well for a quickie driving trolley. The only problem was the centre hole was 25mm but a large diameter axle solved that one. They were2.50 Euros each.
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