Aluminium suppliers

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elasmonut

Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
662
Hey guys I'm down in Australia, where everything is made from chipboard and corrugated iron.
I've given up trying to source anything here, and was hoping you guys could help me out with an aluminium supplier that will ship to Oz. I'm after 6061 t6 flat bar about 1/8-3/16 about 2' wide. I tried onlinemetals but the shipping costs meant it was cheaper to smelt the stuff myself.Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Or should I just bite the bullet and fork out for titanium?
 
Hey check out the Kiwis. I know they make a lot of cool little aluminum jet boats. For that matter check out some boat repair places in Australia.
 
Man I'm 100% positive you can source this material locally, or it's equivalent. You probably just haven't figured out where yet. More than likely, they don't, have never, and never will advertise online, but you're asking for a pretty basic component of fabrication, which is reasonably universal, world wide.

I've never met a decent sized town, world wide, that didn't have a supplier for steel, aluminum, sheet of various materials, fasteners, welding supplies, etc. You just have to figure out where it is, and google isn't the tool. I've lived in more than a dozen countries, almost all of them, massively less developed than Oz.

If you said cutlery steel of some kind, I'd concede it, since I've never been to Australia, but aluminum flat stock? I'm really not trying to be a smart ass, it *has* to be available somewhere, you're not asking for an exotic alloy. Not sure why you specifically need 6061 T6, but basically if you ask for "aluminum bar stock" the default is 6061 or equivalent.
 
Yeah javand I did exaggerate a bit. But I've been on the phone as well to a dozen different places and unless I want in huge round bars, or weird extrusions I'm fresh out of luck. Looks like I'm gunna have to cough up the extra dosh for ti.
 
Have you asked any local machine shops where they get supply from?

I never had problems getting any dimension of usual flat, round, square, tubing, or angle in third world places you wouldn't believe. If you're deep in the outback you might have to wait for a trip into a city, but I'm sure somebody supplies it. It's just not the sort of thing that *isn't* available at all.

Also, your local welding supplier may carry bar stock. Hell, I can buy the stuff you're looking for at the national big box hardware stores here for about $5.



Maybe the issue is that you're specifically asking for 6061 T6? Just ask for aluminum flat bar possibly?

If it comes down to it, I'll ship you some, but I honestly can't believe it's not available. =\
 
Yeah I missed that, assumed you meant 2 inches, but if you do need 2 feet width, you need to be looking at sheet metal or plate metal suppliers.
 
Hi elasmonut , if it was 2 inches wide , try bunnings or miter 10 ect . They sell 50mm wide x 3 to 5mm in 1m and 3m lenghts .

But since i'm guessing that you already tried that , and it is 2 foot wide.

I don't know where you are down here , but Google up action aluminium :thumbup: . They are in geebung and Acacia Ridge QLD . I've used them before and they were good guys. They will cut sheets / bars to lenght . No minium size and cheap too . If you arn't local, try them any way and see if they will post it out for you . They may know of someone that is , if not .


Hope this helps - Wack
 
The standard method of getting hard to find things from the USA to Oz is to buy it online, and have it sent to a friend or family member here. They in turn stick it in a box, and mail it to you. Long bars of metal can be cut to the lengths you need and a whole bunch sent in a flat rate box, etc.
 
Thanks for the responses guys, Aluminum is pretty easy to get but I'm being an alloy snob and wanted 6061 t6, everything here is pretty much extrusion alloys like 6060.The size was 2 inches as well and I've found a few places that would slice chunks off a round billet, but by the time I do that and take into account the extra machining I should have just brought Ti. I'm sure there is a few specialty mobs that use it but I haven't been able to find one yet. I was a bit frustrated when I first posted it just feels like pullin' teeth trying to find knife stuff in Oz. Stuff like kydex, corby bolts,chicago screws, micarta, or blade steel down here ha you've got a better chance of finding Bigfoot.
 
Is that extra machinability of the 61 the only reason?
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I would VERY strongly suggest you NEVER buy from Metalsdepot !!! I made that mistake last year and it cost me much time , money , and frustration and made a contractor very unhappy too !! I found what I wanted on their website and asked a number of very specific questions to which they answered "yes, yes, yes " .Lying all the way !
 
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