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I need four six inch round flanges with a 3/4 center hole. I have searched heck and high water and come up empty. The 3/4 center hole keeps me locked out. Every time I find some, they have 1 to 1.5 inch center holes. These are safety flanges for a buffing arbor to cover the metal collecting ring found on most "airway" style buffing wheels. I am stepping up to some 16 inch wheels on my slow machine to increase surface speed and the collector ring is 5 inches therefore I need the six inch flanges. A nice 3/16 thick washer will even work. If it weren't so cold, I would just pull out the plasma cutter and fab up my own. Too stinky to use inside the shop, I hate the smell of burning metal. I know this doesn't really pertain to building but I didn't think it fit any where else.

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jw ( o)===:::

got a local machine shop who could zip them out on a plasma table for you Joe?

Would aluminum work if 3/8 thick? Might be able to cut them on your bandsaw (if you have one, I think you do) then drill your 3/4" hole.

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I did contact a local tool and die and they want $100.00 for four of them. Seemed a bit steep. Your right, I could fab them up with aluminum too.

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jw ( o)===:::

How about working them up from something like this?

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PM ... O=57837512

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Never mind...just saw that is stainless...! Probably a little bit tough to cut...

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I have a friend that works a a pipe supply house here in Houston who could get you some carbon steel pipe flanges that you could drill. But remember that a true pipe flange will be about 1/2" to 5/8" thick in that diameter. Aluminum might be your best bet. Just add 50% to the comparable steel thickness (say 3/4 instead of 1/2 or 3/8 instead of 1/4").

Also, consider that your flange needs to be balanced to keep from inducing bad vibrations. As opposed to the Good Vibrations of the Beach Boys.

edit add on - If you know someone with a metal lathe he could make a set in a snap.

Hope this helps,

Steve

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

You can do a static balance by simply setting the wheel up on an axle and seeing where the heavy spot is and then drilling a little material out at that point.

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