I want to install the chain stopper sold by Whitworths, but want to beef up the base by using bronze plate.





It's a simple and compact chain stopper, but I like the fact that it is flexible in respect of chain size - can stop 6mm, 8mm or 10mm chain. Anyway, my usual metal supplier (Edcon Steel, in Sydney) doesn't sell bronze, and I'm not keen on working with 6mm stainless steel plate - very hard to cut, file, sand etc.

Anybody bought bronze plat/flat bar anywhere in Australia recently?

LooseChange said..

Stainless, depending on the grade is very easy to work with hand tools, it can be cut with a hacksaw, drilled, filed or sanded with no real issues. The way to work stainless is work slowly to avoid overheating by using plenty of coolant and lubrication. To drill stainless, re-sharpen the drill bit to a more acute point, turn the bit very slowly in a drill press and use plenty of lube for cooling once again, under no circumstances allow the steel to get hot, it WILL harden (depending on grade).
Stainless is cheaper than bronze and more readily available, so for those reasons it would be my first choice.

Drilling it is ok, but when it comes to cutting 1 or 2 foot lengths of 6mm 316 plate its not simple. Slow cutting with a hacksaw in the past resulted in multiple dull $3ea blades and crooked cuts. Using a grinder with thin cutting wheel - there's overheating. Additionally, the heat from grinding seems to change the metal temper so that the edge rusts, and in my experience it's painful to smooth a rough grinding edge with hand tools and files. SS316 imposes wear on hand tools. If I had a metal workshop, maybe then it would have been easy.

That's why I'm looking for bronze plate even if it costs a bit more. I'm sure someone sells it, just want to find them.