I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other material
that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

What's wrong with cold-rolled of the correct size?

"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

Paul,

Where or what type of store carries it?
Shipping is costly, as you know.



"Paul in Redland" wrote in message
...
What's wrong with cold-rolled of the correct size?

"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material
that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?

I've used a pair of grade 8 bolts (heads cut off) welded into each end of an
angle iron. Then bolt on selected wheels. Weld or bolt into place.

knowone wrote:
A dumb question, I realize. A steel supply house.




If you don't need a lot of it, Home Cheepo stores will have a section
where you can buy steel rods in fractional inch diameter sizes in three
foot lengths, and maybe 6 foot ones too. Might prove to be cheaper than
paying a minimum order charge at a metal supply house.

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
...
knowone wrote:
A dumb question, I realize. A steel supply house.




If you don't need a lot of it, Home Cheepo stores will have a section
where you can buy steel rods in fractional inch diameter sizes in three
foot lengths, and maybe 6 foot ones too. Might prove to be cheaper than
paying a minimum order charge at a metal supply house.

Jeff

Actually True value hardware carries an assortment of steel and aluminum bar
stock. Abit pricey compared to a steel supplier, but True Value is 6 miles
away and the steel supplier is 30 miles for me.

Last time I bought material I bought 4 pieces 1/4" thick by 1 1/2" aluminum
6' long.

I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

For some larger items to be wheeled, you can't beat the entire rear axle
with tires and wheels from a small front wheel drive car. Available at any
junk yard.

Karl

Look around your "home improvement" store, sometimes you can find foundation
"J" bolts or similar things for a 1/10 th the cost of round steel bar.

terry

"Karl Townsend" remove .NOT wrote in
message news

I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in
an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

For some larger items to be wheeled, you can't beat the entire rear axle
with tires and wheels from a small front wheel drive car. Available at any
junk yard.

Karl

Run a caliper on those 'J' bolts before purchase. They tend to be an odd
size. The manufacturer uses a thread roller to put some undersized
threads on them.

Terry Kangas wrote:
Look around your "home improvement" store, sometimes you can find foundation
"J" bolts or similar things for a 1/10 th the cost of round steel bar.

terry

"Karl Townsend" remove .NOT wrote in
message news
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in

an

emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

For some larger items to be wheeled, you can't beat the entire rear axle
with tires and wheels from a small front wheel drive car. Available at any
junk yard.

Karl

Like bBob I weld bolts usually soft into pipe, angle or what ever. Even
used sched 40 Pvc once.(welding was a B**ch. You don't know cheap til you
been to my shop.
Tom

"RoyJ" wrote in message
news
Run a caliper on those 'J' bolts before purchase. They tend to be an odd
size. The manufacturer uses a thread roller to put some undersized threads
on them.

Terry Kangas wrote:
Look around your "home improvement" store, sometimes you can find
foundation
"J" bolts or similar things for a 1/10 th the cost of round steel bar.

terry

"Karl Townsend" remove .NOT wrote in
message news
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in

an

emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

For some larger items to be wheeled, you can't beat the entire rear axle
with tires and wheels from a small front wheel drive car. Available at
any
junk yard.

Karl

For wheels that have integral bearings, almost any round stock will
work well. Some stuff that's usually available for cheap would be items
such as wheel lug wrenches/tire irons, used engine head bolts, etc.
Most hardware sections of retail stores have some steel products, and
the farm supply places generally always do. Three feet of CRS round
will make several axles if pipe is utilized to extend the width.

Axle stubs welded into sections of iron pipe will make length
requirements easy. Drill a couple of holes near the ends of the pipe,
and plug weld the stubs into place.

For wheeled bases, a broken or worn out cheap floor jack (the imported
2 ton about $30 when new, for example), can make a decent wheeled base.
Remove the lifting parts, then use pipe to extend the side plate
separators and rear axle to the desired width.
Lots of these cheap jacks are thrown away regularly.
The mobility isn't the greatest, but for some uses where a machine
doesn't need to be moved far, they're good.

WB
..............

knowone wrote:
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other material
that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 04:12:45 GMT, "bBob"
wrote:


"knowone" wrote in message
link.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material
that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?

I've used a pair of grade 8 bolts (heads cut off) welded into each end of an
angle iron. Then bolt on selected wheels. Weld or bolt into place.

Bet they're not grade 8 after welding!

Paul, Jeff, Richard, bBob, Don, Karl,Terry, RoyJ, Tom, Wild Bill:

Man, you guys have some great ideas. I see that you have your scrounging
talents fine honed.
I take pride in my being cheap and scrounging but I see that I am just a
piker.

I'm not sure that I understood the one using the pipe and drilling it out
near the end and plug welding it. I am guessing that the axle stub has to
be bent 90 degrees toward the end of the pipe and along its axis.

Thanks all.



"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

The way I've made axles with the pipe/rod combination is to drill the
pipe thru the diameter at a couple of places near the end, then insert
the rod into the pipe. Where the rod passes the holes in the pipe,
welding into the rod and the pipe wall simultaneously (plug weld).
This assumes that the axle stub rod diameter and the pipe ID are the
same size.

I feel that plug welding along the pipe wall may yield a stronger axle,
by not having the weld at the exit point, where the rod meets the pipe
(conjecture on my part).

WB

Oic, WB. Now, I got it.

Thanks


"Wild Bill" wrote in message
oups.com...
The way I've made axles with the pipe/rod combination is to drill the
pipe thru the diameter at a couple of places near the end, then insert
the rod into the pipe. Where the rod passes the holes in the pipe,
welding into the rod and the pipe wall simultaneously (plug weld).
This assumes that the axle stub rod diameter and the pipe ID are the
same size.

I feel that plug welding along the pipe wall may yield a stronger axle,
by not having the weld at the exit point, where the rod meets the pipe
(conjecture on my part).

WB

On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 18:03:54 GMT, "knowone"
wrote:

Paul, Jeff, Richard, bBob, Don, Karl,Terry, RoyJ, Tom, Wild Bill:

Man, you guys have some great ideas. I see that you have your scrounging
talents fine honed.
I take pride in my being cheap and scrounging but I see that I am just a
piker.

I'm not sure that I understood the one using the pipe and drilling it out
near the end and plug welding it. I am guessing that the axle stub has to
be bent 90 degrees toward the end of the pipe and along its axis.

Thanks all.

NO, NO, a LOT simpler than that. You stuff the axle shaft into the end
of the pipe, and you cross drill the pipe, about 1/4" diameter, and
"plug weld" through the hole to hold the stub in. You can usually get
away with flowing an inch or two of brazing rod in the hole - works
easier for a novice than trying to get the weld to penetrate the stub
without eliminating the pipe.



"knowone" wrote in message
link.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks





*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

Finding metal.

Look in your yellow pages under "steel" or "metal" sales. Don't forget to
look for "scrap metal" too.

In my general area, there are two large outfits that sell steel and other
metals but they require a minimum purchase that has always been more than I
have needed.

There are also a couple of machine shops that retail steel. When I need new
steel, that's where I go.

We also have a scrap yard that sells used steel. This is a great source if
you can find what you need.

Steel can sometimes be found in yard sales. Last summer I bought about 40
ft of brand new steel welded up into a 'deck railing' fence. It was
unpainted too. A few summers back I picked up over 60 ft of deck railing
(painted that time).

I personally have avoided the metal bins at Home Despot and its ilk because
that steel is SO expensive.

David Todtman



"knowone" wrote in message
news
Paul,

Where or what type of store carries it?
Shipping is costly, as you know.



"Paul in Redland" wrote in message
...
What's wrong with cold-rolled of the correct size?

"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

Okay, David.

Right after I posted the original, I realized that it was a stupid
question - senior moment, I suppose.


"David Todtman" wrote in message
news:jeLTf.162663$sa3.100223@pd7tw1no...
Finding metal.

Look in your yellow pages under "steel" or "metal" sales. Don't forget to
look for "scrap metal" too.

In my general area, there are two large outfits that sell steel and other
metals but they require a minimum purchase that has always been more than
I have needed.

There are also a couple of machine shops that retail steel. When I need
new steel, that's where I go.

We also have a scrap yard that sells used steel. This is a great source
if you can find what you need.

Steel can sometimes be found in yard sales. Last summer I bought about 40
ft of brand new steel welded up into a 'deck railing' fence. It was
unpainted too. A few summers back I picked up over 60 ft of deck railing
(painted that time).

I personally have avoided the metal bins at Home Despot and its ilk
because that steel is SO expensive.

David Todtman



"knowone" wrote in message
news
Paul,

Where or what type of store carries it?
Shipping is costly, as you know.



"Paul in Redland" wrote in message
...
What's wrong with cold-rolled of the correct size?

"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in
an emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

Well, judged by the bounty of ideas, your so-called senior moment was a
pretty good thing.


"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
Okay, David.

Right after I posted the original, I realized that it was a stupid
question - senior moment, I suppose.


"David Todtman" wrote in message
news:jeLTf.162663$sa3.100223@pd7tw1no...
Finding metal.

Look in your yellow pages under "steel" or "metal" sales. Don't forget
to look for "scrap metal" too.

In my general area, there are two large outfits that sell steel and other
metals but they require a minimum purchase that has always been more than
I have needed.

There are also a couple of machine shops that retail steel. When I need
new steel, that's where I go.

We also have a scrap yard that sells used steel. This is a great source
if you can find what you need.

Steel can sometimes be found in yard sales. Last summer I bought about
40 ft of brand new steel welded up into a 'deck railing' fence. It was
unpainted too. A few summers back I picked up over 60 ft of deck railing
(painted that time).

I personally have avoided the metal bins at Home Despot and its ilk
because that steel is SO expensive.

David Todtman



"knowone" wrote in message
news
Paul,

Where or what type of store carries it?
Shipping is costly, as you know.



"Paul in Redland" wrote in message
...
What's wrong with cold-rolled of the correct size?

"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in
an emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

use just schedule 40 mild steel pipi
"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

I would say, most regular wheels have 5/8" hole in their hubs, and so
I would suggest buying regular 5/8" 3' rod from Home depot. That is
what I have on my generator. Which is pretty heavy.

http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/onan/Diesel/

Not very cheap at about $5, but works well.

i

On Sat, 01 Apr 2006 22:55:49 GMT, tech. wrote:
use just schedule 40 mild steel pipi
"knowone" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am always needing to put tires on some items that I use such as large
fans, homemade generator/s, carts, etc. I have used drill-rod once in an
emergency. Other times, all-threaded rod but I know there is other
material that has to be cheaper.

What am I overlooking that is dirt-cheap, like me?


Thanks

I just rebuilt a welding tank cart for the b-in-l, we used 5/8"
shafting from TSC along with some 12" pneumatic bearing-in-hub wheels
from the same source. Cost was about $25-26 for wheels, shafting and
the shaft collars we used for retainers. I welded the shafting to the
cart, cut it to length and put the shaft collars and wheels on, took a
morning's work. So I guess the question is, what do you consider
cheap? My time is worth more to me than scrounging around for days
looking for just the right combination of junk and scrap to do a job.

Stan

Well, Stan, that is you.

For me, I would prefer to scrounge around for days for the materials in
which to build many axles/wheels. That way, I can have more rather than
just blowing in, plopping down my wallet and saying: take what you want as
my time is valuable.

Sort of reminds me of the old saw that says that if you have to ask how much
fuel it burns, you can't afford it. In reality, if you are the type who
doesn't question expenses and just throws money at everything, you will
never be able to afford the item that burns the fuel.

k.o.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I just rebuilt a welding tank cart for the b-in-l, we used 5/8"
shafting from TSC along with some 12" pneumatic bearing-in-hub wheels
from the same source. Cost was about $25-26 for wheels, shafting and
the shaft collars we used for retainers. I welded the shafting to the
cart, cut it to length and put the shaft collars and wheels on, took a
morning's work. So I guess the question is, what do you consider
cheap? My time is worth more to me than scrounging around for days
looking for just the right combination of junk and scrap to do a job.

Stan