Where to buy solid copper bar in Australia (preferably Brisbane) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 02:13:26 pm
content: Hi,I’m looking to buy some copper stock to be used in some heat transfer applications. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find solid copper in any sort of aspect ratio close to 1:1 which is not a tiny rod near me. Ideally, I’m looking to get some 50x50 mm bar stock (50.8mm/2” would be fine as well). I’d be fine with buying up to 500mm of it if necessary.Also, if anyone can recommend a supplier that would be able to sell me such a thing near Brisbane, Australia? General comments on copper suppliers in Australia are also welcome.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 02:28:12 pm
content: Quote from: jeremy on April 21, 2019, 02:13:26 pmIf you have any local electrical panel builders, ask them if they can sell some of their stock. I think that they use that size for making busbar in switchboards.Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 10:42:36 pm
content: Also might be worthwhile canvassing some metal recycling companies, asking to look through their copper scrap.

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2019, 11:39:42 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on April 21, 2019, 10:45:33 pmNot sure if you are being ironic, but McMaster famously hasnt shipped to anywhere outside the US for a long time. I think they got in trouble for some export control stuff once and their solution was to simply refuse all international orders.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2019, 12:09:53 am
content: Not in Brisbane but you could trywww.australwright.com.auwhat you want is on the bottom of page 7 of their catalog.https://www.australwright.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Austral-Wright-Metals-Copper-Sheet-Copper-Coil-Copper-Bar.pdf

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 22, 2019, 05:48:16 am
content: McMaster-Carr started shipping o/s a year or 2 ago, but by God it can be a hassle with them.George Weston & Sons over at Carole Park used to be pretty hobbyist-friendly & sell cut short lengths, but it's been a decade or more since I bought from them. I also vaguely remember hearing about a place at Hendra, but can't remember the details (& I might gettting confused with alu stock or copper pipe).

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2019, 06:14:11 am
content: Interesting. It seems they might ship after all. Technically you need a GST registration though.Quote

author: duak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2019, 06:12:39 pm
content: I second the scrap or recycler. I needed some 5/8" round for spot welder tongs. A local over the counter supplier wanted more than $70 plus I had to wait for it to be ordered. A local recycler had 3/4" round for about 1/3 the price. They had various other sizes including 2" round.

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 03:25:27 am
content: Just a quick update in case anyone finds this via google:I called most of the scrap dealers around me that I could find today. They were pretty much all a flat out no except for one. I went to check out the only one that would let me in, but the selection was very limited and quality was low; mostly copper sheet metal covers of thickness 2-3mm, and some burnt busbars which were roughly 30mm x 10mm with lots of tapped holes in them. No solid round at all. They had a huge amount of cable though. Price from them was AU$10 per kg, approximate price for today on the metal markets is AU$9.50 per kg.I also called George Weston, and they quoted me for a brand new 300mm length of 2" square bar at aboutAU$12 per kg.Edit: Ok, I take that back. Something felt wrong so I double checked my quote with George Weston, they are actually quoting AU$45 per kg (there was a mixup in the length of bar)!!!!!! Maybe not such a good idea after all. For reference, I just checked and McMaster is about AU$32 per kg.

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 03:54:54 am
content: Quote from: jeremy on April 21, 2019, 11:39:42 pmI bought some parts from McMaster-Carr late last year, but they were shipped via my US freight forwarder (shipito.com). So there is a work-around.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2019, 12:21:33 am
content: https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20190425161824&SearchText=heat+pipeHave you considered using heat pipes? They are somewhat flexible, and work amazingly well. Vastly better than solid copper, and much lighter.