Re: Pin material ?

"Snag"  wrote in message news:1025jpa$arro$1@dont-email.me...
   Who said anything about buying stock ? Not that I don't buy stock
when I have a project that requires something specific , but probably
85% of the stuff under my bench came from friends or neighbors for free
. Some was marked when I got it , some wasn't . This particular piece
wasn't . I did know for sure that I didn't want to use any of the 12L14
leaded steel .
Snag
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I modify bolts when I need small pieces of machinable steel of known (claimed) higher strength rating for calculations, especially with a larger head and for lifting. They may need non-standard shank and overall lengths, for instance the bolts in double shear that sandwiched the gantry track channels to the splice and hanger plates and had to let the trolley wheels pass. They were threaded just far enough to let the nut pull tight, and cut off flush with its outer end.
Much of my stock came from auctions or scrap bins and unless labeled I can't assume better than A36 properties. If the part doesn't need a larger head I generally make it from O-1 drill rod but I don't trust my heat treating skill enough to harden and temper it for other than cutting tools.
I tested the bending properties of a 1/4-20 Grade 8 bolt. The rolled threads broke off with a brittle fracture, the shank bent double without cracking. This is why I cut custom threads on the shanks of long bolts. I save the cut-off original threads to make setscrews and tapped hole center locators.
jsw