Grain-oriented electrical steel, aka lamination steel, aka transformer iron, aka a lot of things. Where can I get it in small amounts? Every place I found that sells it, looks like the kind of outfit that only sells it if you sign a contract to order a truckload per week. Is there no online storefront that sells it with criminally high markup to garage inventor? I found some possibly promising results on alibaba but that website scares me.

I need a long strip roll, like the kind you would use to make toroidal transformers. Hell, even E-I laminations would be nice.

any leads?

 

At the risk of "hijacking" this thread, why do so many supliers insist on only selling to customers that need "a truckload per week"!! I have had this issue 2 times this week with different parts and it is starting to get on my nerves.
If you want a crappy iPhone, no problem. At least 9 shops in the local mall here.. If you are looking for a 5/8 acme screw, good luck finding one in the state....

Sorry. Needed to vent before I blow a gasket (another thing I could not by unless I get 4 square meters ).

Mark

 

Can you salvage some from an old tranny? Perhaps cook the core to burn off any varnish sticking the lams together?

 

No help here. Even when I worked at a power supply company (1974), the owner would mysteriously show up with the EI steel for each job and never let anyone find out where he got it.

Besides him, I ran the place, and I couldn't find out!

 

Hell, even E-I laminations would be nice.

Obsolescent 'standard' BCB modulation transformers are an excellent, modestly priced, source of said material -- I yet see several of these each 'season' at various electronics flea-markets (A.K.A. 'Hamfests, 'Swapmeets', etc...) I suggest, for instance, that you check out Dayton --- Be advised, also, that inasmuch as nobody wants to haul the 200+ lbs 'anchors' back home - the later the 'hour' the better the price!

I need a long strip roll, like the kind you would use to make toroidal transformers

Such is readily obtained from discarded (or liquidated) 'power conditioners' containing toroidal isolation transformers --- In my experience a good contact in this regard is the appropriate staff of large hospitals...


Best regards and good luck
HP

 

I use these 2:
https://www.speedymetals.com/default.aspx
http://www.cut2sizemetals.com/?gclid=CLv50PLJ6cYCFQiNaQod1r0Lvw

These might be good too:
http://www.onlinemetals.com/
https://www.metalsdepot.com/

Iron is better than steel for transformers.

 

I use these 2:
https://www.speedymetals.com/default.aspx
http://www.cut2sizemetals.com/?gclid=CLv50PLJ6cYCFQiNaQod1r0Lvw

These might be good too:
http://www.onlinemetals.com/
https://www.metalsdepot.com/

Iron is better than steel for transformers.

I think you missed the point of the question. He needs, grain Oriented electrical Steel (GOES), a silicon-steel alloy. Simple steel from a cut-to-order shop won't work - unless I didn't see GOES in one of those sites.

 

Can you salvage some from an old tranny? Perhaps cook the core to burn off any varnish sticking the lams together?

That gives rise to a lot of (maybe unwarranted) concern about affecting the grain-orientation hex placed on the laminations. How hot do you have to get to melt varnish? How hot is hot enough to undo the arcane annealing/grain orientation process?

 

No help here. Even when I worked at a power supply company (1974), the owner would mysteriously show up with the EI steel for each job and never let anyone find out where he got it.

Besides him, I ran the place, and I couldn't find out!

Well, that's inspiring. ass.

 

That gives rise to a lot of (maybe unwarranted) concern about affecting the grain-orientation hex placed on the laminations. How hot do you have to get to melt varnish? How hot is hot enough to undo the arcane annealing/grain orientation process?

One word: 'solvents'

 

One word: 'solvents'

Maybe you're right, but my suspicion is that more than one word is required, like :"solvents capable of wicking through the cunthair-thick layers of varnish between the laminations..."

 

Hmmm...I'm thinking, "pressure cooker" but buy it in person. The NSA monitors such searches on the Internet because of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Oh crap. I said, "pressure cooker, bomb, and Boston Marathon". Hello officer.
Better leave the front door open today so they don't break it down first and check the door knob later.

http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/08/government-knocking-doors-because-google-searches/67864/

 

@#12 I'm not even going to quote that. I don't want those buzzwords attached to my online identity. But anyway, thanks for turning a harmless questions about grain oriented steel into a NSA viper pit. again, ass.

 

Maybe you're right, but my suspicion is that more than one word is required, like :"solvents capable of wicking through the cunthair-thick layers of varnish between the laminations..."

My experience with ketone solvents has been quite favorable in this regard...

Best regards
HP

 

One word: 'solvents'

Maybe you're right, but my suspicion is that more than one word is required, like :"solvents capable of wicking through the cunthair-thick layers of varnish between the laminations..."

30-year-old transformers used varnishes that could be dissolved by alcohol or acetone but modern transformers are coated in polyester (cheap) and epoxy (better). Epoxy is not soluble in solvents after curing. Polyesters, if cross linked, can be essentially insoluble. You might be able to thermally oxidize (burn) it off.

Some thin plate motors and transformers are coated with nano meter thickness of oxides (MgO usually) and then stacked. The outside us then epoxy coated to prevent oxidation.

 

@#12 --- Oh yes! -- I yet recall the glares received when I inquired after the "largest [canner] in stock" of a 'big-box' retailer...
For the record, my requirement for said 'convenience' centered about construction of a vacuum chamber for oil-potting of EHT transformers... --- Paranoia

 

Epoxy is not soluble in solvents after curing.

Actually, I find that cured epoxies are effectively degraded by acetone (i.e. the 'binder' is dissolved while the 'filler' is precipitated as 'dust')... That said, the process tends to be 'slower' than one would prefer...

EDIT: It occurs to me that my use of the terms 'binder' and 'filler' may not be technically accurate -- Hence I'll say, rather, that "something" dissolves and "something" is precipitated

Best regards
HP

 

@#12 I'm not even going to quote that. I don't want those buzzwords attached to my online identity. But anyway, thanks for turning a harmless questions about grain oriented steel into a NSA viper pit. again, ass.

Now you know one reason I am so careful about allowing my moniker to be associated with my real name or physical address. Still, I don't expect that to stop Our Government from protecting me to death.
The front door is unlocked!

 

@#12 --- Oh yes! -- I yet recall the glares received when I inquired after the "largest [canner] in stock" of a 'big-box' retailer...
For the record, my requirement for said 'convenience' centered about construction of a vacuum chamber for oil-potting of EHT transformers... --- Paranoia

Unfortunately, the gasket is usually configured to protect ONLY against positive pressure. You might find that thwarts your efforts to inflict a vacuum on a pressure cooker.

 

Unfortunately, the gasket is usually configured to protect ONLY against positive pressure. You might find that thwarts your efforts to inflict a vacuum on a pressure cooker.

That was my first lesson! Two 'micron-gauges' and five gallons of Shell Diala later I resorted to a 'hand cut' gasket and a 5cm thick polycarbonate slab (as a lid) -- It's live and learn

Best regards
HP