What are the dimensions of street sweeper bristles?

[pbh4]

I keep reading about DIY picks from streetsweeper bristles. I don't think they use them in the UK - they have plastic bristles instead where I live. Could someone please tell me the width and thickness of the bristles?

Thanks!

Paul

[doublez]

2.5mm by 0.95mm

The length can vary depending on where it snaps off, mine are between 15cm and 20cm

-doublez

[MBI]

I've found it can vary a bit. Just depends on what kind of trucks are in the area where you are located.

[asgardschosen]

Are there any reasonable facsimiles that can be used? I'm not sure if I can get my hands on the bristles either. But I'm quite interested in doing some DIY stuff.

[Squelchtone]

Are there any reasonable facsimiles that can be used? I'm not sure if I can get my hands on the bristles either. But I'm quite interested in doing some DIY stuff.

Post a Wanted to Buy ad in the Buy/Sell/Trade area. Some folks have some for sale occasionally.

or you can buy a lifetime supply here for $229 http://www.ebay.com/itm/230800147264

Squelchtone



meanwhile, at the Bogota factory...

[doublez]

Hacksaw blades are another thing that people suggest.

if you can find ~0.02-0.03 inch thick steel/aluminum at your hardware store, then you can use that, if you have the tools to cut it into strips.

Squelchtone:
Where did you get that photo?
Also, re the sale on ebay that only ships in the US, but pbh4 is in the UK.

[asgardschosen]

That's a lot of brushes!

Hacksaw blades are another thing that people suggest.

if you can find ~0.02-0.03 inch thick steel/aluminum at your hardware store, then you can use that, if you have the tools to cut it into strips

What tools do you think are necessary? I'm willing to go buy some if I need, but I'd really like to spend under $30-40 on the tools.

[doublez]

What tools do you think are necessary? I'm willing to go buy some if I need, but I'd really like to spend under $30-40 on the tools.

For hacksaw blades, you just need files, but some people use grinders. Files will cost like $5-$10, but a grinder will be around $40-$60.

If you get sheets, you could use a metal saw to cut it into strips, then grind from there, but I'm not sure how well that would work... There are machines to fold/bend/cut metal, but I don't know how much they cost. Another option that I've been trying recently is etching. This post shows the technique that I've been trying, just replacing the hacksaw blades with metal sheets and masking it to make a pick, not a wrench.

Hacksaw blades are the most common thing that people seem to recommend though, so there's lots of info on how to make picks out of them

[pbh4]

2.5mm by 0.95mm
-doublez

Thanks for the information. I had tried to make picks from some spring steel from a drain cleaner snake but the dimensions are 5mm by 0.5 mm and it is really a bit too thin and bendy. I see now that I need something a bit thicker.

Paul

[asgardschosen]

Files will cost like $5-$10, but a grinder will be around $40-$60.

Do you mean an angle grinder or a dremel?

[doublez]

Files will cost like $5-$10, but a grinder will be around $40-$60.

Do you mean an angle grinder or a dremel?

I was talking about a bench grinder. Not sure about angle grinders or dremels.

[billdeserthills]

I would think an assortment of spring steel would serve you better, for making tools with. I think Blue ridge machine & tool and lots of other places would sell it

[DiacetylMorphine]

i got something very similar for 8 euro, made out of what i belive is the same steel. I'm gonna try to explain with my poor english, and would gretly apreciate if someone could find the correct words for me :

it's the head of what's call in my country a chimney sweep's brush (sry for the bad translation). It's made out of a very resistant steel, quite thin. I can't even bend the picks by hands. The only withdraw is that it's not wide enouth for some picks.

something like that :


i belive you could buy one on the net, and have enouth for a life time (cause the picks are so resistant, and you can make so many out of it).

ps: also if someone know how to heat those things and trempered them properly i'm realy interested.