Go Bars

[needsmorecowbel]

Anyone in need of some cheeky 3/16th inch fibre glass rods? I am looking at acquiring some (25 or so) for my first build. Figured it would be cheaper to get them in bulk (100 or so)...unfortunately no places are open until the 27th so getting a quote has been impossible

Stu

[Tod Gilding]

Yeah I Could do with some Stu, let me know what price you can get .

[liam_fnq]

Keep me in the loop Stu, I could do with 25 or so.

Anyone else with a cheap source, feel free to chime in

[needsmorecowbel]

I just had a search through the go bar related posts and sent an email off to Lillian's suggestion of GoodWinds.com to see if they can do a large international order. Only problem with that is that the rods are 48 inch and would need to be cut in half...But they are about 89 cents for 2 rods (without shipping and rubber stoppers of course) whereas LMI and StewMac are around 4-5 bucks per rod. (I'd also have to factor in that we'd need some 200+ rubber stoppers hahaha). Will keep you guys posted

[kiwigeo]

Stewmac and LMI currently have 24" rods at following prices:

Stewmac: $US3.53 (for 25 or more)
LMI: $US3.95

[kiwigeo]

Only problem with that is that the rods are 48 inch and would need to be cut in half...

1 metre is length limit for Australia Post but if you freight via courier then this length limit won't apply. This Ozzie mob seem to stock the same product:

http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/pro ... t_306.html

And endcaps:

http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/pro ... t_306.html

[graham mcdonald]

10mm dowel from Bunnies works fine, too

[Puff]

10mm dowel from Bunnies works fine, too

Too easy mate

[Kim]

I really do not think this will work well for an international order...shipping will be a deal killer and you may as well look where the kite people are getting their product from.

I would try local plastics suppliers or just google "Pultruded Fibreglass Rods" cause that is what you are looking for. I just tried and got this mob right up http://www.permex.com.au/pultruded_fibreglass_rod.htm..I am not endorsing this business because I have never used them. I got mine local and avoided shipping hassles but you get the idea, just look around a bit and find a local supplier.

From memory (it was a few years back) I paid around $9 per 3m length of 6.2mm white pultruded fibre glass rod. I cut them into 940mm length to fit my deck and they are just perfect. Bunnings even have the white rubber stoppers to go on the end so they won't bruise the spruce or skip off the top of the deck so easy.

Cheers

Kim

[liam_fnq]

Only problem with that is that the rods are 48 inch and would need to be cut in half...

1 metre is length limit for Australia Post but if you freight via courier then this length limit won't apply. This Ozzie mob seem to stock the same product:

http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/pro ... t_306.html

And endcaps:

http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/pro ... t_306.html

Only seems to go up to 4.5mm. Is that thick enough?

[kiwigeo]

10mm dowel from Bunnies works fine, too

I'm using the dowels at the moment but on average I bust about 5 during an average glue up session......it's why I wear safety glasses when working on my go bar deck. My nerves are usually shot to pieces also so Im going fibreglass.

[vandenboom]

I agree with Kim. I bought 20 rods from Permex in Sydney (see Kim's link) a couple of years ago, and the rubber stoppers from Bunnings.
From memory, I think I purchased a couple of long lengths of 6mm rod and asked them to cut them to 900mm for shipping (due to Aust Post 1m limit referred to). The rods and shipping cost me about $80.
Before that I used to use 10mm hardwood dowels and had the same experience with breakage. THere's not enough give in them to cope with slight variations in height that you have to deal with. I know there are things you can do to get around this but it is much easier with fibreglass.
frank

[Craig]

dowel from Bunnies works fine, too

That's all I've ever used . I prefer to use the 8mm dowel. Tas. Oak. I can't remember ever breaking one . Everyone knows they send all the dowel with runout to Adelaide Martin

[Allen]

I got all of mine from Permex abot 5 years ago. They will cut to length for the same price per metre.

[liam_fnq]

so the consensus is for 6mm?

[Kim]

so the consensus is for 6mm?

That depends entirely on the required length....if the distance between top and bottom deck is only say 600mm, then 6mm rods would be too thick and exert too much pressure. IIRC my deck is 960mm between top and bottom, I cut 6mm rods to 940mm ( you need to allow for the thickness of the radius dish + the work piece). I find it is better to have the rods 'just' long enough for a braced top/back on a dish and no more. That way the same rods will short enough to use on top of the form/mold when gluing the top/back to the sides, alternatively you can just have two sets of rods.

Don't fool yourself into believing that the more you deflect to rod, the more pressure it will apply. The pressure the rod will exert remains much the same from the point of deflection through to catastrophic failure.

Cheers

Kim

[ozziebluesman]

G'day Liam,

I bought 5mm fiberglass rods from Permex about the same time as Allen. I worked out they need to be 650mm long to place about 8 to 10 pound downward preasure. I just used my bathroom scales in the go bar deck to get a rough estimate of the length needed using 5mm rods. If you go 6mm they will need to be a bit longer.

Cheers

Alan

[needsmorecowbel]

Well the place Lillian suggested looks very promising as the shipping for 48 rods is 55 dollars...just have to see what the fee is for having them cut down to 39 inches so (so that they can fit in Aus Post and International air freight parcels)

[DarwinStrings]

10mm dowel from Bunnies works fine, too

I'm using the dowels at the moment but on average I bust about 5 during an average glue up session......it's why I wear safety glasses when working on my go bar deck. My nerves are usually shot to pieces also so Im going fibreglass.

Jesus you must be putting some stress on those go bars Martin, I use 10mm dowel and have the odd one crack but never with enough force to get me worried or have me turning my face to the side and wincing as I set the strain on them.

Jim

Heavy metal, now that is a expensive gig, I have just been pricing anvils

[needsmorecowbel]

4.5mm is probably a little bit on the thin side...I was just going off the LMI and Stew Mac standard of approx 4.75mm (3/16) and seeing if i could get a better deal. Cheers for the advice. How tall is your deck Jim and how long have you cut your dowel>?

Stu

[kiwigeo]

That way the same rods will short enough to use on top of the form/mold when gluing the top/back to the sides, alternatively you can just have two sets of rods.

I have an adjustable floor on base of my deck to adjust for height of work.

[DarwinStrings]

My deck adjusts from 730mm to 940mm Stu and my rods are all 770mm or there about.

Jim

[needsmorecowbel]

Thanks Jim

[needsmorecowbel]

[kiwigeo]

Think that decks a built small Stu...can barely see it