I called a few welding shops and was quoted a few prices, but they seem alittle on the high side. I know they have to be getting it for cheaper and making a profit, so is there a place that anyone knows of that I can get it for a fair price? online? anywhere?

 

Look in the yellow pages under metal or steel supply. Call all of them in there and ask for the same thing and see who has the best price. I have yet to find a place around here that stocks DOM but most can order it. It will be a lot cheaper than going through a welder/fabricator and they normally offer free delivery if you buy over a certain amount (normally $100). I got this order delivered to my house today (not DOM but it's 24' sections and I wouldn't be able to haul it):

 

Stupid question. What exactly is DOM (What's it stand for?) and what exact advantage does it hold over regular tubing I guess besides obviously strength?

 

It's only a stupid question if you don't SEARCH first j/k

DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) It means the metal is drawn over a rod instead of starting out as a sheet and being rolled into a tube then the seam welded.

The fact it doesn't have a welded seam is what makes it "stronger"

Erich

 

Ahh, I see. Thanks for that.

 

Thanks, I called a few welding shops before I posted this. Maybe that was my mistake. I'm going to look for metal or steel supply today and make some calls.

 

I sell 2" DOM, but it is pricey.

 

Well you got the DOM part right...but the rest is wrong.

DOM: Drawn Over Mandrel. Formed from strips and electric-resistance welded, then cold drawn to size. The cold drawing process causes the weld line to virtually disappear and gives the tubing it strength by cold working and allows consistent dimensions and tolerance. The carbon content also gives DOM (1020 or 1026) better mechanical properties than regular ERW tubing.

Please...if you don't know.

Some light reading:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...0/index1a.html

 

I get mine from the big truck that comes to the shop.

Seriously. Look for local metal yards. Lots of people need steel, so lots of people sell steel.

 

Just out of curiousity, what do you sell it for by the foot? Just curious how your sense of pricey compares to the places that I've talked to here.

 

$21.60 per foot or $1.80 per inch

I can only ship up to 5 foot lengths too.

 

Wow, I hope you pay alot less then that. The cheapest I've found here is $180 for 23ft of 1.5" .250wall which comes to about $7.83/ft. and then $120 for 23ft of 1" .250wall, which comes to $5.22/ft. if I want to sleeve the links of my suspension.

So do you think 1.5" .250wall will do it or do I need to sleeve them? I was looking at the strength of DOM and they should hold the entire weight of the Runner without being sleeved. I've read mixed opinions though all over here and the net. Some say sleeve, some say there is no need for it.

 

I had replying to my own posts with my own answers, but here it goes. I have read on here about people telling others that they need .250 wall DOM tubing sleeved with .250 wall DOM for links and what not. I was watching some TV today and they has a professional rock buggy on there, The owner was telling about how strong it was. He mentioned that they use .250 tubing for all of the links. That's it.....nothing sleeved, just .250 wall DOM on buggies that see alot more about than most of our Toyotas. I'm glad that I saw that becuase it's going to save me over $100.

I just thought I'd let everyone know.