Pin Stock/Drill Rod Supply

[JLayne]

Hello,

Working on a  pre-carve and need to get some additional 1/16" pin stock material to complete the build. Does anyone out there have a recommended supplier for 1/16"? Also, I have read that many folks use hardened 1/16" drill rod for pinning barrel lugs, etc. if using drill rod for such a purpose, does it matter what type you buy (air hardening, oil hardening, water), and can it be bought in a pre-hardened state? I would prefer to purchase and use a type that I can keep around and simply cut to length and use without going through any additional pre-use steps if possible.

Thanks,
Jay

[Frank]

I use finishing nails. If it was good enough for Don Getz it’s good enough for me. Also much easier to cut.

[Joe S]

Most hardware stores carry music wire in 1/16".  It's 1095 and can be used annealed or you can harden it.

[FlintFan]

MSC.com 

Use water or oil hardening, it doesn't really matter which one for what you are using it for. 

Just don't use A-2 air hardening.  If you are not careful cutting/grinding A-2 it will work harden very easily.

[45-110]

Hobby shops here carry music wire in a variety of diameters.
kw

[Tim Crosby]

 Around here they use little Yellow flags on 1/16" wire about 18" long to mark Gas/Elc./?... lines they work well. I had a fence put in and got a life time supply with the fence.

  Tim C. 

PS:  I never worried about hardening pins. TC

[FDR]

Go to the local welding supply. They have what you need in 3 ft lengths.  Also have brass rod.

Fred

[rsells]

I get my material from welding supply houses as well.  I use 1/16 inch material.  One thing to watch out for is to use the rods that are made in USA.  Some supply houses have material that is made out of the country and is a bit over a .001 inch bigger than 1/16  and causes issues after drilling the hole with a 1/16 inch drill bit.  They are using a metric system rather than the standard we use in our country.
                                                                                          Roger Sells

[john bohan]

1/16 stainless steel welding rods work very well, you might even find some from a friend.

[3 swans]

Ck. old bicycle rims, the spokes make them, plus other things also. they are close to 1/16", just mic.them to make sure.

[davebozell]

I bought 100 12" pieces of 1/16" music wire from McMaster-Carr.  Send me a pm with your name and address, and I'll send you several.  I have a lifetime (for me) supply.

[Clark Badgett]

1/16 stainless steel welding rods work very well, you might even find some from a friend.

Why would anyone use stainless?

[B.Habermehl]

I’ve allways used 5/64 dia music wire. It does not peen over an cause torn out hole edges. Plus you simply use a 1/16 dia punch to remove the pins. Only 16 thousandths difference in diameter but the drill bits are noticeably stronger, and are more ridged. BJH

[Dave Marsh]

I use finishing nails. If it was good enough for Don Getz it’s good enough for me. Also much easier to cut.

Ditto for me as well.  They work great. 

Dave

[Tim Ault]

Pop rivet stems also work well the ones I used were .072-.075 dia.

[P.W.Berkuta]

As the OP can see there are many different items he can use to good effect --- I use 1/16" welding rod which is copper wash coated to prevent rust - use what you like or can get a hold of easley & cheaply in your area .

[Scota4570]

K&S Metals supplies music wire in many thicknesses.  Ace hardware sometimes carries it.  A decent Hobby shop will have it.  On line vendors can supply it.  It is super strong spring temper and glass smooth.  Your pin will never bend.  It should cost less then a dollar per 36" length.

[Clark Badgett]

Some time ago I bought a box of finish nails about 2" long that I thought were 1/16" but mike right at .070" I just bought the closest # drills to that and they work great.

[flehto]

I use 1/16 dia music wire....it's uniform, cheap and I buy mine from Ace Hardware. All the pins  in my builds are 1/16 dia  music wire except in a curved Pbox hinge where 1/16 dia soft baling wire is used.  Oil hardening drill rod can be used unhardened but is a lot more expensive than music wire.

I'm fortunate to have  sidecutters that cut 1/16 dia music wire w/o a problem......bought another sidecutter last year and the music wire chipped the cutting edge. An alternative is to use a corner of the grinding wheel. No need to use larger than 1/16 dia music wire......it doesn't bend....Fred

[Smokey Plainsman]

This thread is relevant to my interests as I will soon need to pin a ramrod tip to a rod.

[B.Habermehl]

Another source of pin stock is insulation suspension wire. It comes in packs of 100 pcs. 16 inch lengths and about 5/64 dia. Only a buck or two per pack. It’s meant to hold insulation up between floor joists etc. you bow it and spring it into place. I bought a pack at Lowe’s a year or two ago. It’s good springy stuff. I don’t think it’s quite as hard as music wire. BJH

[flinchrocket]

This thread is relevant to my interests as I will soon need to pin a ramrod tip to a rod.

You want to use something soft enough to peen the ends. Not so with barrel pins.

[BOB HILL]

I use a scrap of copper wire for pinning rr tips.
Bob

[Daryl]

1/16" finishing nails work very well.

[Stoner creek]

Wool dauber handles are 1/16” and work well.