Help! I've looked everywhere!

[DaveTT]

I'm being driven to distraction here.

I've been searching for some sterling silver tube, but....it needs to be 9mm (outside dia.) and 6 or 7mm internal dia., giving a wall thickness of about 1mm or so.

It seems to be available in Australia and the States but not the UK, which I find unbelievable.

Does anyone know a supplier in the UK? Happy with most lengths (I'm that desperate!!!!)


I would be eternally grateful.


Cheers

Dave

[ps_bond]

Options...

1. Phone Cooksons and see if they have any.
2. Draw down your own from 1mm sheet (if you can locate a suitably large drawplate)
3. Get some 9mm rod and drill out - a lathe would be best, but not absolutely essential.

[mizgeorge]

I'd also try Argex

[DaveTT]

Hi

Thanks for your quick replies.

Cooksons only go to 6mm outside as do Betts, Argex do it but the wall thickness is to thin (0.5). Loads of firms do it in the USA and Australia.

I'd love to have the skills to use a drawplate...but don't!! And I'd guess that drilling it would produce more scrap than finished product?

I'm going to have to find someone who can draw it down for me I guess......any offers????

[ps_bond]

Have you phoned them?

Scrap isn't the same as waste... It's reclaimable.

My drawplates don't go up that far; while I could make a new one for that diameter, it wouldn't be cost effective. For you anyway

[DaveTT]

Hi

Thanks Peter!

Yeah phoned them....they only do the stuff on their website. They did put me in touch with Betts Metals...but they just do the same sizes as Cookson (which is what you'd expect as they probably sources theirs from them).

So its off to the States I guess.

[Dennis]

The real question Dave is how much do you want and how do you intend to use it?

For instance if you only want 10-12mm, it's very easy to make from sheet and round it on a mandrel-no exotic tools or great skill required.

If you want more, one of us might be able to suggest an alternative.

That said, order it from abroad and you'll have it in ten days or so- no great problem either. Dennis.

[DaveTT]

Hi

The hunt continues.
Tried all the numbers and suppliers mentioned (and a few more), no luck.


The US was a bust, they wanted ridiculous amounts of cash to FedEx it ($100) and that doesn't include various taxes our beloved Govt. needs to levy.

So I have a cunning plan. As I can source 12mm tube.....I need to find someone with the skills and kit to draw it down to 9mm (9.5mm or there abouts would be fine, I'm not a fussy bloke).

So happy to pay for your time & skills etc. Please let me know,

Ever the Optimist,

Dave

So

[mizgeorge]

Would it not be easier to just buy two pieces in the right size (ie 8 and 9 mm with 0.5mm walls from Argex and slot one inside the other?

Otherwise, you need to find a friend who's travelling to the US and can have some delivered to a hotel...

[DaveTT]

Yeah, good point, but I'd like to avoid having a seam between the two tubes if at all possible. And in my experience that would depend heavily on the tolerances of the tube (if the internal dia. of the 9mm is exactly 8mm and the tube to fit inside is exactly 8mm - it won't fit)

I should point out that I'm not a jeweller, I fix Warrior IFVs and Challengers, so I'm good with a big hammer!

Dave