Drill rod, Music wire

[Hughman]

What's the difference between drill rod and music wire, (piano wire)?

The local hobby store sells music wire in dia. up to 5/16" (that's one hell of a piano!) The model aircraft crowd uses it.

Drill rod appears to be A2 steel, which is kinda hard to thread with a die, IIRC.

I'm making support struts, threaded, to be under some tension, continious loading.

Thanks,

[Canoez]

What's the load like? (Pounds) Can you be more descriptive about the application?

The other thing to consider is will it have to flex under tension. Music wire has a tendency to be brittle if you ask it to flex repeatedly - particularly under load. You may be better using cable rather than music wire.

[Hughman]

Bow saw tension rod.

[StevenBauer]

Pics?



Steven

[Hughman]

Not yet. ;)

[Nordicthug]

For a bow saw, mild steel rod is plenty strong enough. Depending on what length you need, a good place to scrounge rod material is old cable reels and old step ladders.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Gerry N.

[Hughman]

I made some panel clamps with mild steel threaded rod - 3/8" w/ wingnuts.

I have distorted the thread on most of these after only several uses. I chase the threads with a die every so often, but it's obvious they will have to be replaced.

This experience with soft steel convinces me I need something different. I'd like these tools to last a little while.

[epoxyboy]

7*9 galvanised cable with swaged fittings - you could worm and parcel it for extra nautical flavour!

Pete

[Hwyl]

Spectra in a spanish windlass?

[paladin]

1/8th inch or larger rod rigging with sta-lok fittings.....

[Jim Ledger]

Here's an outfit in Florida that has sone interesting fittings for stainless steel cable and rod systems.

http://www.secosouth.com/

[George Ray]

http://www.mcmaster.com/
If you find mild steel is not quite up to the task then tool steel is an easy and economical upgrade.
See McMaster Carr for much information on drill rods and the many types and sizes available. Most times rod is provided in annealed (soft) condition and can be easily machined. After machining it is quenched and tempered to desired hardness. I can't speak knowledgeably about the properties of the rod in annealed condition as compared to mild steel but suspect that even with out quench and temper it will do what you require.
While there are many types with exotic characteristics you can let price be your guide and there are a couple that are commonly used and inexpensive.

[Bill R]

Hughman-

How long and what diameter? I have some salvaged from wood cable reels of varying lengths and diameters.

I am not sure of the steel type, but the reels are under fair tension from the weight of the cable.

[Tylerdurden]

It would seem to me some simple hardening of the threaded end of mild steel would be the next logical step.

[Bob Smalser]

I'm making support struts, threaded, to be under some tension, continious loading.


Making a Better Coping Saw (http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=8245&highlight=chain)



Quarter-inch drill rod won't stretch in a bow saw. Music wire is difficult to work with, and likes to break under shock load.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/5457882/70304737.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/300720196.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2080858/300722810.jpg

[ssor]

The wire in merchandising stands is hard drawn. Bow saws usually have a short tensioning screw on one end of the blade. The wooden packable bucksaws had long tension turn buckle rods at the top of the frame. For a short rod a grade five bolt will work. I can't imagine being able to tighten a wing nut with enough force to distort the thread on a mild steel rod.

[ahp]

I have seen threaded rod stock at Ace Hardware. I cannot recall the sizes.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

What's the difference between drill rod and music wire, (piano wire)?

The local hobby store sells music wire in dia. up to 5/16" (that's one hell of a piano!) The model aircraft crowd uses it.

Drill rod appears to be A2 steel, which is kinda hard to thread with a die, IIRC.

I'm making support struts, threaded, to be under some tension, continious loading.

Thanks,

Drill rod is an un-heat treated tool-steel rod that comes ground to precise sizes.
Music wire is an alloy wire. It comes heat treated (hardened and drawn back) so that it is not ductile any more. If you put it under tension it won't stretch much. Because it doesn't stretch if suddenly pops when the tension limit is reached. I have never seen any as big as you found but I would doubt it would be easily machinable because it is already heat treated.

[George Roberts]

I thought drill rod was at least M2 and hardened.

Precision rod is apt to be anything down to 1020.

[Ken Hutchins]

Drill ROD is avaible not hardened in most grades of tool steel, 1020 is not a tool steel.
Drill BLANKS are are cut to length, hardened, and ground, availble in most tool steels as well as most grades of carbide, prime use is to make cutting tools.
Music wire is avaible in several grades of steel, it is hardened and tempered, prime use is to make springs.

[Battenkiller]

What you want is O-1 oil hardening drill rod.

Only the ends need to be hardened (thread them first). Bring to bright cherry red with a torch and quench immediately in oil. After cooling, put the rod in the oven for about an hour at the hottest temp (about 550). This process will temper the rod ends to a hard spring temper.

Alternately, polish the ends with steel wool after the first quench and reheat the rod with a torch about two inches from the ends. You will see the polished metal go from a light yellow to brown and then to blue. When the ends turn light blue, quench immediately in oil.

This will result in a rod that is tough enough to not break but hard enough at the ends to not wear or deform easily.

O-1 drill rod is cheap and readily available from any machinery supply house. I always use Starrett brand, but the Chinese stuff is prolly fine.

[Ken Hutchins]

The best tool supplier is just over the line in New Hampshire , http://www.burgon.com/

They bring huge slabs in from the mill, process into smaller stuff as needed. Did you every see a 250 hp surface grinder.:D

[rregge]

Music wire is the comon name for a spcially processed product typically used to make springs. (not used in pianios) The material has a high strenght (hardness) and is used for its high strength and fatigue resistance.

It has a unique heat treatment (patening) process folloewed by drawing in a die with a special draing liquor to poduce a high surface luster.


This is not your typical Q&T heat treatment

First job out of school was working for a spring company

Russell