Nickel Silver Tube

Uilleann Pipes
1

Following a post several weeks ago I have had a number of requests for details on where to buy nickel silver tube so here are the details


Metall Schulz KG
Horneckerweg 15
90408
Nurnberg
Germany

info@metallschulz.de
www.metallshulz.de

They sell sheet, bar and tube

Tube with 0.5mm wall and is available in OD’s of 10mm to 21mm in 0.5mm increments and then from 21mm to 30mm in 1mm increments
Tube with 1.0mm wall in OD’s from 12mm to 16mm in 1mm increments plus 20mm OD & 21mm OD.
Also in 2mm wall at 26mm OD and 2.5 wall at 24mm OD

2

I haven’t tried this lot, but they seem to also sell ns.

http://www.metalsmith.co.uk/sundries.htm

3

Metalsmith - yes I use them for rod, bar and sheet but they do not stock ready made tube. I also use Columbia metals and Arenastock (Knight strip metals) but again they seem to be unable to obtain it in tube form.

Albion Alloys http://www.albionalloys.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=56 advertise it but minimum order is large as they would make it to order. They are however considering stocking it in the not too distant future if demand is high enough.

At he risk of starting another “rolled versus brought tube” debate - with N/S I tend use ready made tube for short ferrules and the bass drone ‘H’ or curved end and make up tapered ferrules for the drone slides.

As far as I can tell Metall Schulz are the only company producing N/S tube and selling it in quantities suitable for the instrument maker.

Chris

4

I find Metall schulz a little on the expensive side Chris, :sniffle: I bought one meter X 10mm x 1mm wall thickness of nickle silver tubing, cost around £90 with the postage, very expensive,£30 a foot, there nickle silver tubing would be much better with a 0.75mm or 0.80mm wall thickness, much less stock to carry with the one wall thickness size plus less capital layout also, kill two birds with one stone, rather having to stock two wall thickness of tubing at 0.50mm and 1.0mm :confused: , the 1mm wall thickness I find a bit heavey for bending, and 0.50mm wall thickness a bit thin, a 0.70mm wall thickness would still be workable for most other instruments makers as well as pipemakers, and thats the way I would go for stocking any quantity of nickel silver tube if it were me, :wink: I think I might just hand roll some tube for the next job, rather than pay them sort of prices thou,
all the best.

5

Quite agree but was asked where you can get nickel silver tube from and MS seem to be the only supplier. Googling N/S tube brings up a number of companies but when followed up none can supply tube.

I have an order just in with them so will report on current pricing when I have it.

Prices as of 18 months ago were

nickel silver tube CuNi12Zn24 EUR / mtr.
R490 hard

10 x 0,50 mm 16,50
11 x 0,50 mm 16,50
12 x 0,50 mm 19,60
13 x 0,50 mm 19,60
14 x 0,50 mm 19,60
15 x 0,50 mm 23,50
16 x 0,50 mm 23,50
17 x 0,50 mm 23,50
18 x 0,50 mm 23,50
19 x 0,50 mm 23,50
20 x 0,50 mm 23,50
21 x 0,50 mm 24,90
22 x 0,50 mm 24,90
23 x 0,50 mm 24,90
25 x 0,50 mm 24,90

Minimum quantity was 4 lengths but sizes can be mixed.

Buying a larger quantity would reduce the relative postage costs. It would also be possible to make up an order by going in with others which would share these costs so long as the people concerned lived close enough to each other not to negate any savings.

As regards my own sets - mostly I make up the tube to suit from 22g (0.8mm) sheet. I have a small rolling machine that works well on everything 11/16"OD and above - 1/2" to 5/8" are spun up on a mandrel and for smaller sizes they are rolled then pushed through a die using a 2 ton arbour press. For this latter an internal rod matching the finished ID is needed to keep the tube straight. Most of these will be parallel but for the long ferrules on the sliding parts of drones they are tapered.

The bending rolls I use are by Cherry Scale Models and have given good service since 1980

Cherry Scale Models
The Stables,
25 Church St.,
Langham,
Oakham,
Rutland LE15 7JE
ENGLAND
tel: 01572 757392 fax: 01572 742053

They do not appear to have a website or email

A similar set of rolls which may be an updated version of the one mentioned above is available from Metalsmith
http://www.metalsmith.co.uk/rolling-bars.htm
They are discontinuing some sizes

Chris

6

Waiting for prices Chris, is very Scary stuff. :cry: :smiley: