Looking for old/non FIRST legal cylinders.

FIRST General Forum
1

Hey,

I’m working on a project for fun, and need any old pneumatic cylinders and solenoids… I’d be willing to pay, but this is a small, low-budget project. Please let me know what you have =)

Thanks all,
-Cody

2

You may want to submit the information on CD-swap.

3

Ebay…

4

I have a pending CD swap entry… it just needs to be approved. Ebay is good for buying single pneumatic cylinders, but I’m looking to buy up to twenty. There is no resource greater than the FIRST community when it comes to old, unused parts at cheap prices.

Failing this, I’m going to make the cylinders out of PVC or screen door shocks.

5

If you’re willing to plunk down $400, McMaster sells pneumatic cylinders at any size you want for around $20 (and up) each.

6

what sizes are you looking for?

7

Well, anywhere from 6" on up. I’m trying to build a haunted house/maze thing.

8

Like I said- ebay.

I bought tons of cylinders last year for under 200$. Sometimes I’d get 6 or so for 50$.

If you don’t seriously need a cylinder though- your idea of PVC and wood would probably work so long as the pressure is low.

9

And as *I *said, There is nothing on ebay that suits my quantity, size, and price restraints at the moment… Which is the reason I came to this community in hopes of finding another source for cylinders.

I’ve made a few rough prototype cylinders both out of PVC, and a screen door shock. While both work acceptably at lower PSI, they lack any type of regularity. It’s a home done process, and while I can make them close to Identical, each one has surprisingly different specs.

I understand that you are trying to advise me to check out other options, but I’ve done so already.

10

Cody, Art already pointed out a source–McMaster.

Also, if you have some idea of the diameter you want, please post that too. You gave us the length (>= 6"), but not the diameter. If diameter isn’t a factor, then let us know. It’s a lot easier to say, “Oh, we’ve got X bore Y throw” than it is to say, “Hey, got any 6”+ cylinders?"

11

Take a look at Surplus Center under their pneumatics section. They have all kinds of good stuff for things like this and if your lucky you might find just what you need at a price you like. Don’t know what you are needing them for but you might also check out the gas springs under Misc.

Oh yeah, another place you might find something useful and cheap is Young’s Surplus. I haven’t bought anything from them in years but they were good to deal with when I did several years ago. If they happen to have something you want they have been known to haggle a little if you ask nicely.