Pennsylvania Steel Company for 4130 tubing?

[914pete]

I'm ready to place my order for the 5/8" and 1/2" x .035 tubing to get my fuselage started and was wondering if anyone has purchased their 4130 chromoly from this company? Their pricing was roughly the same as Aircraft Spruce and its German SMLS tubing but their delivery charge for 20' random lengths is only $50.  ACS was $160+

Also, I spoke with Leonard over the holidays and decided to build the XL instead.  He was kind enough to accept a return on my LE plans and only charge an extra $30 for the XL plans.  So now I'll be building LE-XL-F-11.  I think I read on here that the 125ft of 5/8x.035 noted in the materials list might be a little short.  Should I order another random 20 footer or would that be over kill?

[Will Weidner]

Pete, definitely get a quote from Wicks.  I went to a specialty tubing supplier for a quote.  The total price from Wicks, including shipping, was less than the specialty supplier  before shipping costs were added in.

I should have gotten one more length of 5/8", I ran a little short.  I didn't really make any wind chimes either.

[Tom XL-7]

With the price of shipping, it may be cheaper to buy some tubing insurance rather than a stick at a time. 
5/8 0.035
 I ordered (2) 14 foot pcs and (10) 12foot pcs. Or  148' total.
The bad news is I have not built so I can't say how that worked out.
The good news is I did a complete blank sheet takeoff, each piece separate including allowance for cut off and fitting.
I also considered "this piece cuts off this tube leaving a waste of "x" feet which will cover these pieces" .
 Because as you know or will soon find out a five foot stick is more usefull than five one foot ones.
I do takeoffs as part of my work. If I screw up I buy my customer free stuff. Installed! I know how to do a takeoff. I learned the hard way not to be sloppy.
Also keep in mind quantity discounts. I believe somewhere in my order I paid very little for an extra stick because the whole line item was discounted.
The majority of my order came from Aircraft Spruce with some cherry picking from Wicks.
The ACS order form did not include 14' sticks. It stopped at 12'. They like all suppliers buy random lengths, normally 17 to 22 feet.
Call your order in and talk to a human. Make a friend. I did. It's easy, they like people who buy things. When I asked she called the back of the house to confirm and placed my order.
ACS will deliver for free to Oshkosh
Wicks also has such deals. Even some regional shows.
Enjoy your build
Tom XL-7

[Bugsmasher]

If you get tubing....make sure you get German or US made items. The chicom stuff has been found to have as many as 18 voids per inch in random x-ray testing. Shops in this area simply will not use it.

[Will Weidner]

I've had to buy a couple short lengths from Mcmaster.  It was American/German like the stuff I got from Wicks.  Just FYI.  However, Mcmaster is squirrely about revealing their sources.  I may have just gotten lucky.

[PropMan]

Check for discounts.  When I bought my tubing from ACS I got extra 5/8cuz it had a 10%   volume discount over a certain length ordered. Also got 8' lengths so it came ups ground.  Just splice it.

[914pete]

Ordering 8 footers from ACS can ship UPS which saves some $ but I'm concerned about the extra weight of splicing.  (I'm not even sure what the procedure for splicing is)  I know it would probably add less then a pound but over all these things will add up.

Also, on page 5 of the plans Leonard mentions a 3/4" or 7/8" tube tail post "optional". What size has anyone used and what else needs to be considered with the size choice?

[Will Weidner]

AC43.13-1B is the bible for aircraft repair where you will find splicing methods.  Download it here: http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/99861

[914pete]

AC43.13-1B is the bible for aircraft repair where you will find splicing methods.  Download it here: http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/99861

Thanks for the link Will.