This morning I had the chance to help a newcomer to the field of metals learn a new trick.....turning solid round bar into seamless tubing.

The RFQ called for 4340, 3" OD x 1.50" ID x 32" lengths - 4 pieces. Since this size does not exist in the marketplace, I recommended boring stock 3" round bar.

The first step is to locate the round bar matching the tube OD required...in this case, the company actually had 3" in stock. Calculate the cost of the round bar and get a price for boring, add freight and quote the job.

Here are a few good choices. We like Timken Boring for quick service, great pricing and fast quote turnaround. Feel free to add your favorites in the comments section.

Also remember, some distributors offer in-house boring and trepanning (trepaning is useful on larger ID's from solid as it reclaims a solid, reusable ID core).

Alloy Machining Services, Inc
2808 Supply Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 726-8248
info@alloymachiningservices.com

AMS is a great boring and honing shop. OD turning capabilities 40" diameter x 30' Long.ID Boring capabilities up to 36" diameter x 30'.

Custom Honing, Inc.
24840 U.S. 20 West
South Bend, IN
800-311-9468

steve@customhoning.com

Boring from 8" through 24" up to 14' long. Honing from .75" to 44" up to 64 feet long.

 

EDCO Drilling & Honing
661 S Main St
Webster, MA
(508) 671-9921

Edco is a regional deep hole drilling operation.

Hunting Dearborn
8 6 Dearborn Drive
Fryeburg, ME
207.935.2171

Hunting is a fabulous trepanning shop located in Maine. They do work for every major producer in the US, specializing in long lengths, close tolerances and exotic metals including SS, Superalloy and Titanium.

Magorien Boring
1212 South Vail Avenue
Montebello, CA
323.726.4000
info@magorien.com

In business since 1958, Magorien Honing & Hydraulics is unique in being able to offer the manufacturing industry over 50 years of experience in precision I.D. honing, Deep hole boring, Gun drilling, hydraulic press building, modification & repair as well as complete rebuilding of hydraulic cylinders.

Quality Grinding Company, Inc.
6800 Caballero Blvd.
Buena Park, CA
714-228-2100
Sales@QualityGrinding.Net

Quality Grinding offers blanchard, surface, OD/ ID centerless and way grinding. Additionally, they offer general machine shop services including milling, drilling, horizontal ID boring and cutoff sawing.

Roberts Honing & Gundrilling
12805 Sunshine Avenue
Santa Fe Springs, CA
562-777-2480
robert@robertshoning.com

We are your one stop shop for Gundrilling, Trepanning and Honing. Capabilities... GUN DRILLING Knee-Type and Cylindrical from .055" to 3" TREPANNING From 2" to 6" HONING From .062 to 16" I.D.

Timken Boring
14730 Yarberry Street
Houston, TX
281-449-0319
TMS.CRM@TIMKENSTEEL.COM

Timken Boring can handle a wide variety of boring and trepanning needs on everything from basic carbon and alloy steels all the way through stainless and exotic alloys.

Tube Hollows
39 Enterprise Drive #2
Windham, ME
844-721-8823
espoerl@tubehollows.com

We at Tube Hollows International take pride in tackling jobs that others decline. Whether it's producing a 9 foot bar with a .200" hole down the center (a 540:1 depth to ID ratio) or drilling refractory bars made of molybdenum and tungsten or machining aerospace shafts with complex external features, we combine Yankee ingenuity and work ethic to get the job done right. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you achieve your unique, precision tube design goals.

Xact Spec Industries
16959 Munn Rd
Chagrin Falls, OH
(440) 543-8157
info@xactspec.com

Xact Spec is a leading provider of gun drilling, trepanning and spade drilling—reliable methods of drilling short and deep holes with excellent burr- and chip-free finishes. Xact Spec is capable of drilling holes with diameters of .055” to 16” up to 60 feet in length using high pressure oil. Close tolerance gun drilling with multiple shapes is available, including off-center holes, angled holes and connecting holes. We drill holes that are straight within .001 per inch; and can work pieces up to 60,000 lbs.

This morning I had the chance to help a newcomer to the field of metals learn a new trick.....turning solid round bar into seamless tubing.

The RFQ called for 4340, 3" OD x 1.50" ID x 32" lengths - 4 pieces. Since this size does not exist in the marketplace, I recommended boring stock 3" round bar.

The first step is to locate the round bar matching the tube OD required...in this case, the company actually had 3" in stock. Calculate the cost of the round bar and get a price for boring, add freight and quote the job.

Here are a few good choices. We like Timken Boring for quick service, great pricing and fast quote turnaround. Feel free to add your favorites in the comments section.

Also remember, some distributors offer in-house boring and trepanning (trepaning is useful on larger ID's from solid as it reclaims a solid, reusable ID core).

Alloy Machining Services, Inc
2808 Supply Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 726-8248
info@alloymachiningservices.com

AMS is a great boring and honing shop. OD turning capabilities 40" diameter x 30' Long.ID Boring capabilities up to 36" diameter x 30'.

Custom Honing, Inc.
24840 U.S. 20 West
South Bend, IN
800-311-9468

steve@customhoning.com

Boring from 8" through 24" up to 14' long. Honing from .75" to 44" up to 64 feet long.

 

EDCO Drilling & Honing
661 S Main St
Webster, MA
(508) 671-9921

Edco is a regional deep hole drilling operation.

Hunting Dearborn
8 6 Dearborn Drive
Fryeburg, ME
207.935.2171

Hunting is a fabulous trepanning shop located in Maine. They do work for every major producer in the US, specializing in long lengths, close tolerances and exotic metals including SS, Superalloy and Titanium.

Magorien Boring
1212 South Vail Avenue
Montebello, CA
323.726.4000
info@magorien.com

In business since 1958, Magorien Honing & Hydraulics is unique in being able to offer the manufacturing industry over 50 years of experience in precision I.D. honing, Deep hole boring, Gun drilling, hydraulic press building, modification & repair as well as complete rebuilding of hydraulic cylinders.

Quality Grinding Company, Inc.
6800 Caballero Blvd.
Buena Park, CA
714-228-2100
Sales@QualityGrinding.Net

Quality Grinding offers blanchard, surface, OD/ ID centerless and way grinding. Additionally, they offer general machine shop services including milling, drilling, horizontal ID boring and cutoff sawing.

Roberts Honing & Gundrilling
12805 Sunshine Avenue
Santa Fe Springs, CA
562-777-2480
robert@robertshoning.com

We are your one stop shop for Gundrilling, Trepanning and Honing. Capabilities... GUN DRILLING Knee-Type and Cylindrical from .055" to 3" TREPANNING From 2" to 6" HONING From .062 to 16" I.D.

Timken Boring
14730 Yarberry Street
Houston, TX
281-449-0319
TMS.CRM@TIMKENSTEEL.COM

Timken Boring can handle a wide variety of boring and trepanning needs on everything from basic carbon and alloy steels all the way through stainless and exotic alloys.

Tube Hollows
39 Enterprise Drive #2
Windham, ME
844-721-8823
espoerl@tubehollows.com

We at Tube Hollows International take pride in tackling jobs that others decline. Whether it's producing a 9 foot bar with a .200" hole down the center (a 540:1 depth to ID ratio) or drilling refractory bars made of molybdenum and tungsten or machining aerospace shafts with complex external features, we combine Yankee ingenuity and work ethic to get the job done right. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you achieve your unique, precision tube design goals.

Xact Spec Industries
16959 Munn Rd
Chagrin Falls, OH
(440) 543-8157
info@xactspec.com

Xact Spec is a leading provider of gun drilling, trepanning and spade drilling—reliable methods of drilling short and deep holes with excellent burr- and chip-free finishes. Xact Spec is capable of drilling holes with diameters of .055” to 16” up to 60 feet in length using high pressure oil. Close tolerance gun drilling with multiple shapes is available, including off-center holes, angled holes and connecting holes. We drill holes that are straight within .001 per inch; and can work pieces up to 60,000 lbs.

This morning I had the chance to help a newcomer to the field of metals learn a new trick.....turning solid round bar into seamless tubing.

The RFQ called for 4340, 3" OD x 1.50" ID x 32" lengths - 4 pieces. Since this size does not exist in the marketplace, I recommended boring stock 3" round bar.

The first step is to locate the round bar matching the tube OD required...in this case, the company actually had 3" in stock. Calculate the cost of the round bar and get a price for boring, add freight and quote the job.

Here are a few good choices. We like Timken Boring for quick service, great pricing and fast quote turnaround. Feel free to add your favorites in the comments section.

Also remember, some distributors offer in-house boring and trepanning (trepaning is useful on larger ID's from solid as it reclaims a solid, reusable ID core).

Alloy Machining Services, Inc
2808 Supply Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 726-8248
info@alloymachiningservices.com

AMS is a great boring and honing shop. OD turning capabilities 40" diameter x 30' Long.ID Boring capabilities up to 36" diameter x 30'.

Custom Honing, Inc.
24840 U.S. 20 West
South Bend, IN
800-311-9468

steve@customhoning.com

Boring from 8" through 24" up to 14' long. Honing from .75" to 44" up to 64 feet long.

 

EDCO Drilling & Honing
661 S Main St
Webster, MA
(508) 671-9921

Edco is a regional deep hole drilling operation.

Hunting Dearborn
8 6 Dearborn Drive
Fryeburg, ME
207.935.2171

Hunting is a fabulous trepanning shop located in Maine. They do work for every major producer in the US, specializing in long lengths, close tolerances and exotic metals including SS, Superalloy and Titanium.

Magorien Boring
1212 South Vail Avenue
Montebello, CA
323.726.4000
info@magorien.com

In business since 1958, Magorien Honing & Hydraulics is unique in being able to offer the manufacturing industry over 50 years of experience in precision I.D. honing, Deep hole boring, Gun drilling, hydraulic press building, modification & repair as well as complete rebuilding of hydraulic cylinders.

Quality Grinding Company, Inc.
6800 Caballero Blvd.
Buena Park, CA
714-228-2100
Sales@QualityGrinding.Net

Quality Grinding offers blanchard, surface, OD/ ID centerless and way grinding. Additionally, they offer general machine shop services including milling, drilling, horizontal ID boring and cutoff sawing.

Roberts Honing & Gundrilling
12805 Sunshine Avenue
Santa Fe Springs, CA
562-777-2480
robert@robertshoning.com

We are your one stop shop for Gundrilling, Trepanning and Honing. Capabilities... GUN DRILLING Knee-Type and Cylindrical from .055" to 3" TREPANNING From 2" to 6" HONING From .062 to 16" I.D.

Timken Boring
14730 Yarberry Street
Houston, TX
281-449-0319
TMS.CRM@TIMKENSTEEL.COM

Timken Boring can handle a wide variety of boring and trepanning needs on everything from basic carbon and alloy steels all the way through stainless and exotic alloys.

Tube Hollows
39 Enterprise Drive #2
Windham, ME
844-721-8823
espoerl@tubehollows.com

We at Tube Hollows International take pride in tackling jobs that others decline. Whether it's producing a 9 foot bar with a .200" hole down the center (a 540:1 depth to ID ratio) or drilling refractory bars made of molybdenum and tungsten or machining aerospace shafts with complex external features, we combine Yankee ingenuity and work ethic to get the job done right. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you achieve your unique, precision tube design goals.

Xact Spec Industries
16959 Munn Rd
Chagrin Falls, OH
(440) 543-8157
info@xactspec.com

Xact Spec is a leading provider of gun drilling, trepanning and spade drilling—reliable methods of drilling short and deep holes with excellent burr- and chip-free finishes. Xact Spec is capable of drilling holes with diameters of .055” to 16” up to 60 feet in length using high pressure oil. Close tolerance gun drilling with multiple shapes is available, including off-center holes, angled holes and connecting holes. We drill holes that are straight within .001 per inch; and can work pieces up to 60,000 lbs.

Interesting find. While trying (in vain) to locate some 310 stainless, 2" OD x .065" wall, I spoke with Plymouth Tube. They told be that I would have to buy 10,000 feet at a minimum (I only needed 620 feet). I asked what they would use as starting stock and they said it would be a hollow.....2.375" OD x .109 wall. Those numbers seemed somehow familiar so I too a look at my handy pipe size chart and guess what? Those dimensions describe 2" schedule 10 pipe!

 

I checked with Rolled Alloys and they did in fact have stock in 2" schedule 10 pipe.

 

Plymouth Tube quoted me roughly $10.00 per foot to convert the pipe to 2" OD x .065" wall tube and about 5 weeks....as opposed to 24 weeks for the 10,000 foot min buy.

 

There are a number of companies willing to provide this service including, apparently, Plymouth Tube but also, Century Tubes in San Diego.

 

You may never use this tip but one day if you do, say thanks Al.....

Objective:

Quickly and easily quote non-standard sizes and grades of welded pipe and tube.

Methodology:

1.) Contact a custom tube fabrication shop with the grade, size and quantity required. Ask for fabrication cost and delivery, as well as required input stock - sheet or plate depending on wall thickness.
2.) Source the input stock based on the fabricators requirements
3.) Combine fab and stock prices, plus logistical costs, markup and quote the job.

Considerations:

A.) Be very careful about the specification required on the quote. Only certify to the specifications of the sheet or plate being used, unless the fabricator is offering to certify to a pipe or tube spec.
B.) Be completely transparent with you client about exactly how you are providing the material being quoted. NOT mill produced product.
C.) Be extremely careful to pass along any notes regarding tolerances and specifications as spelled out in the fabricators quote. Include all details in your quotation to your client.
D.) Only go after items where the wall thickness is one that can be sourced in sheet and plate.

Recommended Fabricators > 2” OD:

Offenhauser - Houston (800) 228-4811 - Talk to Russ Dillard - russell@offenhauser.com 
Mach Corporation – Houston (800) 231-6823 Talk to Denise - dsewell@machindustrialgroup.com
RAM Industries – (800) 881-1223 - Although they can work most any alloy, they stock and fabricate lots of Grade 2 titanium. 

Recommended Fabricators < 2” OD:
Tech-Weld  - Chicago – (800) 521-8823
Evans Metals- Los Angeles – (714) 373-2515