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| | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | So my key stock is pretty much used up and I'm down to just a few pieces in
one of those little plastic drawers on the work bench.
So I thought I'd order a couple of sticks (12") of 1/8" thru 1/2" of
square cad/zinc plated stock. I used to get it from my local
hardware store.
Well, the big box stores, i.e., Menards, Home Depot, Tractor Store
Blain''s Farm and Fleet, Ace Hardware. don't stock it. Oh I can find
little 1" strips for a couple bucks each, but that's not what I'm lookin'
for.
Now my old Fall back to store, McMaster only lists over and under
sized key stock +/- .003" and it appears Grainger is the same.
What's up????????
dg
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 | Denny, have you checked Fastenal?
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,608 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,608 | Keystock was a quick and easy way to do machine setups when you needed parallels.
Tolerance on them were +/- .0005 in those days.
My suggestion is if you order some stock in?
Mic each one, every 1", both sides and use a sharpie to label each one.
To me, +/- .003, is just not acceptable.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | yep, same as the rest of them, oversize and undersize.
Nor is it to me either Don. Just can't figure what the deal
is. key Stock used to be held to size and close tolerance.
DG
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 96 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 96 | cheap and China is what happened.
so you take the Mexican file and fit it
or size it on your surface grinder.
try working with some Chinese 6061 aluminum | | | | | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,291 Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum | | Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,291 | Denny, We used to buy all of our shims and keystock through a distributor from "Precision Brand". This was back in the late 70's. I looked them up and here's a link to their site. https://precisionbrand.com/products/14-square-keystock-zinc-plated-12-length-pack-of-6/
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell."
"They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel." | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | I checked out the site and checked for those that distribute their stuff. For my search 7 showed up and of the seven, 5 were listed at Fastenal and most of them from 3 to less than 25 miles from my house. Should have no problem finding them?!
Thanks for the link, Dusty. Good to know as I do have occasion to need some. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 46 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 46 | Unless I read Precision's page wrong, their keystock up to 5/8 was -.003 - + 003/ .004. They may offer specific sizes in between, but I didn't pick up on that. Actually, I need the odd + and - sizes often for custom & antique engs.. Have to mic them each time. Thanks for marking/ label tip. Duh on my part. David | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,840 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,840 | Not suitable for key stock (too brittle) but when I need a precision parallel I use large size high speed steel cutting tool blanks like 3/4" or 1" square stuff. The base plate of one of my boring bars has a slightly rough surface, so I put a couple of parallel bars between it and the top of an engine block on occasion. It helps to get a perfectly square alignment with the bore centerline.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,420 Former Workshop Owner | | Former Workshop Owner Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,420 | MSC has 12" lengths of key stock. Lot's of different sizes, plated, plain steel, stainless etc. Oversize, under size etc. MSC key stock web pageI never used key stock for parallels but I have used tool bits (high speed, cobalt etc). John
Last edited by J Lucas; 02/15/2018 2:50 AM.
~ J Lucas 2006 GMC Envoy 4.2 I6 2023 Ram 2500/Cumins 6.7 I6 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Wife’s) 2002 Silverado 2500 Gas 6.0 1941 Chevy 1/2-Ton 1942 Chevy 1.5-Ton SWBIn the Gallery My Flicker Photos! | | |
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