Substitute for aluminum angle in jgro's plans?

[ljoe1969]

Aluminum in southeast Ky is expensive.

Will this pvc angle from mcmaster carr work as a sub?

8659k41


http://www.mcmaster.com/

[HayTay]

I don't know about the PVC angle substitute, but a 1.25" x 1.25" x 8' piece of aluminum angle at Home Depot in North Carolina is selling for $14.97. I don't think that's too expensive. All 6 linear guides can be made from just one piece. Enough is left over to remake any pieces that get cut/drilled wrong or to outfit a second machine. Part number for the item from Home Depot is 030699568307.

I've also seen the same item at Lowe's Home Improvement and the local ACE Hardware store but don't know the part number. The aluminum angle can usually be found standing up in a rack in the hardware aisle. Usually just past the screws, nuts, & bolts bins. There's also flat stock, round stock, some small diameter tubing and steel stock in the same configurations.

I haven't been too many places that have been any more than ~1 hour from a Home Depot, Lowe's, ACE Hardware or similar home improvement center. Barring that you should be able to scrounge some at a local junkyard.

If your going to place an order from www.mcmaster.com , anyway, you can purchase Alloy 6063 Aluminum 90 Degree Angle 1/8" Thick, 1-1/4" X 1-1/4" Legs, 8' Length for $17.43 each. McMaster part number 88805K52.

I hope this helps. Keep moving forward...

Harry

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!!!

[ljoe1969]

Where I am we only have a lowe's and the price for a 4' piece is $25.

[jgro]

http://www.onlinemetals.com A 4 foot piece is around $6.00 plus shipping. That is where I got mine from.

jgro

[2muchstuff]

Sometimes you would be amazed what you can find at a metals recycling place. You know those places that you take your scrap metal to and they give you cash for it. I have bought aluminum for my router and other projects for about 75 cents a pound. If you don't find what you need, keep checking back.

[gmfoster]

Originally Posted by ljoe1969 Where I am we only have a lowe's and the price for a 4' piece is $25.

I am not sure what you mean. Where is the place you are that has Lowes but not UPS service. Or is Lowes now in Canada where UPS doesn't work well. For me anything in the MSC or McMaster Carr inventory is usually here next day UPS Ground. And I know very few aeras large enough to have a Lowes that doesn't have a Industrial Metal Supply of one sort or another within easy driving distance.

Whare do you live? Also don't hesitate to utilize shipping, at the price of gas and time it can be much cheaper than driving all over the place. I hate to follow my own advice as I much prefer to see what I am buying....

Garry

[HayTay]

The scenery where you live must be fantastic because there doesn't seem to be much of anything man-made to block your view.

There's an ACE Hardware/Building Center approximately 17 miles from your location. If you'd rather not purchase online, or prefer the "touchy-feely" experience like gmfoster, it might be worth the drive. Their address and phone number is as follows:

Brennenstuhl-Bryant Lumber
1059 N Highway 25 W
Williamsburg, KY 40769

606-549-2463

Follow this link for store hours and additional info:
ACE Hardware/Williamsburg KY

I hope that gives you a jump start in the right direction.

Failure is not an option!

[ljoe1969]

This ace hardware store in Williamsburg is small, I been there once. I called them and they said they don't sell aluminum angle.

I am not too far out in the middle of nowhere. Where I live Corbin, Kentucky is the home of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant franchise, and the Moonbow at the Cumberland Falls.

The moonbow is a rainbow in the mist of a water falls as seen at night with the light of the moon. Pretty cool.

[ShayArnett]

I live in London

[josflix]

Hello I am José from Portugal and this is my first post.
Can anyone tell if replacing the aluminum angle with one made of steel is a good idea. I can´t find 3mm thickness anywhere and buy online outside the country is out of question.

Thank you for the great website.

[ger21]

Steel would be better, but is much harder to work with than aluminum. But it should be much stiffer.

[dustin1706]

Originally Posted by ger21 Steel would be better, but is much harder to work with than aluminum. But it should be much stiffer.

Steel is cheaper and works, but I found that the steel angle I bought had a somewhat rounded inside corner and I had to modify it a bit with a grinder to get the bolt heads to seat flat.