One of the best places for metal stock and parts is used lawnmower shops.  Of course the local junk/salvage car lot is a veritable smorgasbord of free and cheap materials and parts.  If you are a true owlhooter and look real carefully for anything of value, you never know what you will find stashed in little boxes, or in trunks of cars.  It definitely pays to look carefully.

Shop Tip: Metal can be cleaned very easily by immersion in salt water while applying battery power.  Run a wire from the negative side of a D sized Duracell battery to the item being cleaned, and the positive side of the battery wire up to a salvaged piece of stainless steel like a one piece butterknife marked stainless.  Immerse them together but NOT touching, in the salt water, and watch the corrosion or encrustation "Bubble Away" through this electrolytic process.  No smoking as the gas given off here is hydrogen, flammable.  Do it outside, and get rid of the wastes by dehydrating the electrolyte (Evaporation),  then dispose of as solid.  Rinse the cleaned object well and treat with light heat to dry thoroughly. 

United Artworksw Metal Links Page. Big and Comprehensive!


The Hillas Company. For Abrasives and more.

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