[TheForge] Re: Odd size stock

[Kevin 'Donahoe]

Perhaps this also begs the question about aesthetics and business.  I think
much of the appeal of an bit off size stock is the eye appeal.  Seems most
find what's a bit different to strike the eye more than what's common.

But steel mfr's and warehouses are in business to turn a profit, and they
can't do that with inventory tax being paid on stock sitting quarter after
quarter.  If you think the demands there, I'm sure the mill would be more
than happy to fill an order of some tonnage to fill your warhouse to sell to
us descerning smiths :)  But then, if the ornamental iron market's flooded
with it, there goes that unique appeal, damn.  Don't divest the IRA, you'll
never make back the penalties...

Kevin

 -----Original Message-----
 From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
 [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Mike Spencer
 Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 4:04 PM
 To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
 Subject: [TheForge] Re: Odd size stock



 It ain't just "odd size" stock, it's anything.

 Last night I was rigging up a trial gadget [1] and needed a 1/8" shim
 on each side.  Whack off a couple of pieces of 1-1/2 x 1/8 and stick
 them in.  Sloppy.  Check with a mic.  My 1/8 stock is about 0.095 to
 0.100.

 Close scrutiny reveals that this isn't 1/8 x 1-1/2 hot rolled, it's
 sheet sheared to 1-1/2.  Only that day they didn't have actual 1/8
 plate so they used whatever the foreman or attending marketing droid
 thought was good enough.  Back to the scrap bin.  A piece of 10 year
 old 1/8x2 is clearly hot rolled and is actually 0.125-0.130, +/- some
 light rust.  This isn't the first time. 1/8 x 2 is now also sheared
 and it isn't quite 2.00" wide.  Whoever managed the rolling mill in
 the past got it right.  Whoever is managing the shear-to-size op is a
 horse's ass.

 So why don't I just {forge,file,grind,laser,roll,etch,gnaw,lick} some
 1/4" down to 1/8 to make my shims? You have to be kidding.  That's
 what sized stock is *for*. If they stop making sized stock; or stop
 making some or many sizes; or get really sloppy with dimension
 tolerance; that's a canary in our coal mine.  It means that whatever
 was happening, (oh, say, between 1650, when Saugus started producing
 sized nail rod and 1880 when Bessemer furnaces started feeding rolling
 mills) isn't happening anymore.

 Don't get me started.  You think Bill Robertson is stubborn, pigheaded
 and cranky?  I can do cranky in comparison with which Bill as cuddly
 as a pussycat. [2] And tell you a yarn about the moron that set me
 off.


 - Mike

 [1] Air-powered vise.  To the guy with a new hammer, everything looks
     like a nail.  Pics RSN if it works.

 [2] "You may call it 'nonsense' if you like,' she said, "but I've
      heard nonsense, compared with which that would be as sensible as
      a dictionary!"  -- Red Queen to Alice, in _Through the Looking Glass_

 --
 Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~.
                                                            /V\
 mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
 http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^
 _______________________________________________
 Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
 theforge mail list group photo site is
 http://www.photoaccess.com
 Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
 password:  anvil
 ___________