slugs, where to buy them?

[emzdogz]

Do you just buy solid steel rod and cut it in lengths you need? Do people sometimes use thickwalled tubing as slugs, whose OD = the ID of the tubes you want to weld together?

I want to try re-working an old pair of z-bars I have (make 'em shorter and have more pull-back), and am wondering where to source slugs.

I thought if the only purpose of the slugs was to pin the tubing together while welding, then a couple of pieces of whittled-down re-bar could just be hammered in, but really, it would be nice to have better-fitting material.

thx!

 

[swbill]

Typically we use solid but there's really no reason you can't use tubing. Just make sure its a snug fit or it will twist when welding.

 

[BigJimmyW13]

If I wanted one I would go to my local steel/junk yard. They have stuff that I can buy for scrap prices. Most of the stuff I need isn't large. You could try HD or Lowes, but I don't know the status and if they had anything like that it will cost you more than the scrap yard for sure.