Where to find metal?

[Corvo Attano]

Hi all-
I'm building a hidden gun from assassins creed, but it requires a copper pipe, a solid metal cylinder, a pin, and a spring, among other things. Where can I find these materials? Are they simply available at home improvement stores, or do I need to scavenge dumps?
All the best!
Harrison

 

[ookid]

Depends on the part you want. Basic things you might find at hardware stores but for more obscure things you might check McMaster-Carr.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Uridium]

Copper pipe... look for plumbing supplies.

 

[GunnerBill]

Just keep your eyes open. When I was building my Fallout 3 Plasma rifle I ended up spending a good deal of time staring at the plumbing section in DIY stores, going down the local tip to the metal section. In the end I would subconsciously be on the lookout for stuff whenever I was out.

Be afraid it's all consuming!!!

Even as far as stopping "dead" in the street to pick up a particularly good looking rusty bottle cap...

 

[ErkNinja]

I agree with ookid, definitely check out mcmaster.com for all your odds and ends. They'll have all sorts of metal pieces there. In terms of something like copper pipe, depending on the size, you can probably find that at your local home improvement store under plumbing. I believe the pipes you can find at the stores are probably .5", .75" or 1" pipes. Those are the standard household plumbing sizes. If you need an odd size, then stick to mcmaster.

 

[JPH]

I have a metal supply shop I go to. Check the yellow pages.

Also AMazon, but the metal supply places are usually less expensive

http://www.onlinemetals.com/

http://myaluminumsupply.com/cart/home.php

Springs at Home Depot were cheap for my AoT boxes

The boxes were made out of sheets of 0.06 (1.5mm) 3000 series aluminum

 

[Corvo Attano]

Thanks for all the input guys- I have access to the springs via a friend who's done this kind of thing since he was 13 (and he's now 43.. 3 decades of experience), and I found an alternative material to use for the pipe (an old chamber from a marshmallow gun that we never use- might take the piston out of that too) . And, I've checked on all the websites mentioned. Is there anywhere in particular I can find small, solid metal cylinders? It should be about thumb sized. Thanks!
All the best,
Harrison

 

[jsher1010]

In my area Habitat for Humanity has a 'Re-Store', where people donate used building
materials, fixtures, tubing, etc. Also, a good surplus store can be a source for cool
do-dads. Good luck.

 

[jsher1010]

For the 'thumb size metal cylinders' a machine shop might have some cut offs
in their scrap bin.

 

[Renaissance Jed]

This is where I get the majority of my metal. I work mostly in aluminum, but they have almost anything you might want or need.
http://www.speedymetals.com/

 

[powellcm]

http://www.mcmaster.com/

 

[nomuse]

I'll have to try Speedy. McMaster has a very good selection but their prices run high. But I'm going to put a plug in for Online Metals; I've had very good service from them, good prices and fast shipping. Lastly, the Ace hardware chain (and to a lesser extent, OSH) has a small metals selection, particularly in aluminium angles suitable for troughs. Forget them for sheet metal of any sort, though -- way too expensive there. And the sizes are small; maybe up to 1/2" solid rod but no bigger.

Oh, and for mechanical hardware -- springs, bearings, etc. -- Grainger has a huge catalog. Theater shops and the Exploratorium alike shop Grainger to get that specific pillow block or chain sprocket.