Alignment Bars? Buy or make my own?

[bad_idea]

I am looking for some larger diameter alignment bars to line up 8" and 10" pipe. I have only seen this style for sale:

The above is long and narrow, so they don't work well in tight areas. I borrowed one today from a pipe fitter that was around a foot long and about 3/4" diameter with a decent taper to it. It was very handy for tight areas. Where can I find some? I have a lathe, it looks pretty easy to just make my own. What material would I make them from? Thanks guys.

 

[Outlawmws]

How hard do you plan on levering with them? You might want to get some steel that can be easily case hardened so you get a good wearing surface, but it won't get brittle.

 

[ddo]

Grainger, McMaster, Applied, etc. Gonna have to go industrial is my guess. We have a ranching oriented store out here that has a fair selection of chisels.

If I was gonna make one I'd use a prybar for the starting material and go from there - designed for prying already.

I always thought it would be a good idea to take a shorty and weld something on at a 90 degree angle on it to pry with, but never got around to it.

 

[crewchief888]

what about a ladyfoot or slipper bar?
the longest i've seen is only about 24" long, 5/8" or 3/4" di at the big end

 

[bad_idea]

ladyfoot or slipper bar?!!? WTF is that? I work in ship repair, I haven't heard those terms before. Please educate me.

 

[bad_idea]

How hard do you plan on levering with them? You might want to get some steel that can be easily case hardened so you get a good wearing surface, but it won't get brittle.

I recently dragged home a lathe, the price was right (free). I am clueless in machining, but I sure do want to learn! I don't know what kind of steel is easily case hardened, or how to case harden it. BTW, I plan on levering on it just as hard as I can push on it. I am about 180 lbs, so not much.

 

[marineengineer]

Just get the ones that have a prybar on the other end with the taper. I also work on ships and sometimes u really have to wrench on them. Home depot sells combination wrenches with that same taper if i needed short ones id start with those wrenches n cut them down there pretty cheap and u will get a material strong enough to really wrench on. On my ship we have ha those with come alongs and straps to get the pipes to align...... Id want them to be strong

 

[diesel research]

automotive/truck axle shafts

 

[cryan]

12" Marlin Spike sounds like what you need.

http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/marlin-spike-12-123996-/4,14424.html

 

[marineengineer]

The ones with the hooked prybar on the end it gives u a nice place to hold on to and not slip with

http://www.use-enco.com/1/1/3150-j2126-proto-rolling-head-pry-bars.html


I like these the best and they make massive ones that can take a ton of force

 

[Provincial]

ladyfoot or slipper bar?!!? WTF is that? I work in ship repair, I haven't heard those terms before. Please educate me.

Look here for an example of a ladyfoot bar:

http://www.homelectrical.com/16-lad...l-body-and-round-stock-shape.mah-40152.1.html

Slipper Bar:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1121199

Two names for the same thing. These bars have lots of other names.

 

[Provincial]

Lots of good information here, but you have to wade through the smart alec comments:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/what-crow-bars-made-191834/

 

[Outlawmws]

Sounds like you need to find some 1" or so Hex stock and just take a crack at it. if it bends or wears too fast in use, then worry about a better alloy and heat treating.

 

[diesel research]

just go to boneyard, look for a 3/4 or 1 ton with floating axles, pop 8 flange bolts off, slide out and done. or let them/ebay/craigslist do the pulling if u-pull-it doesnt exist locally. they are a bit thicker than your spec, but easiest to remove, and plenty of length.

 

[greasemonkey44]

id turn one on a lathe from an axle shaft

 

[PAPERMAKER]

 

[bad_idea]

I will be yanking some axle shafts when I get home! We have a Pick N' Pull back home (currently on travel) and I am sure I can grab an axle or two for cheap. Be good to make them exactly the size I want. Different sizes for different flanges or situations. Thanks guys.