Where to get a big piece of aluminum or billet aluminum?

[Gamble]

I've seen a lot of people use a piece of billet aluminum to draw the heat away from their work piece. Is billet aluminum better than normal aluminum for absorbing heat? Where can I find a nice size piece to clamp my work pieces to it?

[Gump]

I see them at the local scrap yard sometimes. Never the size I'm looking for though. I would think a Chicago scrap/salvage yard would have a lot. Igger variety than what my local one has. Here, scrap alumium costs $1.50/lb

[ironmangq]

billet is no better than any other aluminum. Go to your scrap dealers and see if they have large pieces of heatsink material or large aluminum bus bars (calling electrical contractors can also be a source- they demo this stuff all the time and usually just scrap it)

[lotechman]

Chunks of Copper flat bar are even better. It is even more difficult to find but it conduct heat better than aluminum. Industrial electricians often are involved in jobs where there is copper or aluminum bar for carrying very high amperages. Sometimes you are lucky but a scrappy will want top prices if they do have it. Yards in Seattle used to have quite a variety of large aluminum bar because Boeing was nearby. You might find heavier aluminum pieces in scrap yards near large aircraft manufacturers in your area.

[DemonSpeeder]

Aluminum is good but copper is better....

[Moparfever]

There's no such thing as "billet" aluminum. There is only a billet of aluminum, generally meaning the large piece of aluminum that is going to be forged, drawn, etc. The type of aluminum is designated by it's alloy and temper.

[kustomizingkid]

Go on practicalmachinist.com and ask for billet aluminum, they know the best sources.

[Silicon-based]

There is a place in Wheeling called Jordan Industrial Supply

http://www.jordanindustrial.com/

They always have a good selection of large "chunks" of aluminum. Worth a visit.

John

[Moparfever]

Originally Posted by kustomizingkid

Go on practicalmachinist.com and ask for billet aluminum, they know the best sources.

Now you're just being mean...

[Rbeckett]

I bought a really nice 2X4X24 chunk from Online Metals for a really decent price recently, It has the advantage of knowing exactly what it is (6061-T6). It will chill just about anything you could clamp it to but only weighs a couple of pounds. Good luck on your most current quest for mzterials.
Bob

[jakeru]

I bought a huge chunk from Online metals as well. I'm going to say 1.5-2" x 3" by about 5"? It was not scrap prices though I did pay retail prices but they are good with small quantities. I originally intended to machine it for a specific project, but now it's just a big chiller bar. I use it as a general weight to hold things down also. Or prop up things to roll to keep them from rolling - it's quite handy for that. I've even sanded a perfectly flat surface on one side, so I can wrap some sandpaper around it and use it to flatten smaller flanges that aren't perfectly flat. And it's even a good prop for my arm or hand when welding sometimes. It's actually quite handy.

[con_fuse9]

Originally Posted by Gamble

I've seen a lot of people use a piece of billet aluminum to draw the heat away from their work piece. Is billet aluminum better than normal aluminum for absorbing heat? Where can I find a nice size piece to clamp my work pieces to it?

Up near Baltimore is an aluminum/stainless specialty place. They sell drops at $2/LBS. Easy to find a 2'x4' 3/8" plate. I've also seen huge 8x8x8 blocks of aluminum. Bottom line, contact your local supplier and ask for drops.

[boatbuoy]

a lot of it on fleabay