Making steel bushings and rod-ends

One example. My Deere bucket has many 1 1/2" ID pinholes that were fabricated from some sort of heavy-wall steel tubing - cut off in slices and welded on at the factory. 1 1/2" ID and 2 7/8" OD. If I had a length of this material, I could saw off new bushings and weld them on - to tighten up the bucket. I think many rod-ends on hydraulic cylinders are made the same way.

I've tried my usually sources, e.g. Enco, MSC, Mcmaster-Car, etc. and didn't find much. Closest thing is with McMaster - they have lengths of heavy-wall structural steel - 1 1/2" ID and 2 1/2" OD. $60 per foot.

I run into this sort of thing often with backhoes and loaders. I figure many fabrication shops buy this stuff in quantity - and I'm looking for a source to buy in something like 1' or 3' lengths.

Go to any steel supplier and ask for DOM tubing.
DOM is "Drawn Over Mandrel" hence, the DOM name. This tubing will be a few thousands over nonimal size so if you order 5/8ths, it will slip over 5/8 round. I just got some 5/8ths to use to make a deer food plot planter out of a 1240 JD row unit.

I buy mine from: Storm Steel 6105 6th St Sw, Cedar Rapids, IA (319) 362-0522

Mark

Its over on the outside and under on the inside, made for finishing to size with a lathe inside and outside. It is a steel that does machine nicely with lathe or tool post grinder.

Gerald J.

I know Randall Machine and Welding stocks it too, but he is only open Fridays and Saturdays. He gets from Des Moines Iron.

Gerald J.

dcm