# Where to buy 3 steel rings (¼” steel and ~8--13” diameter)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 7, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353 "2010-10-07T13:43:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/1 "2010-10-07T13:43:45Z")
As in the title, I need three steel rings, all ¼” thick, with 8–13” inside diameters, welded together (each ring welded shut, not all three to each other). I know where to get them [online](http://www.africanrhythmtraders.com/html/drumrings.html), but I’d like to get them locally.
But where the heck do I go looking for them?
Call a machine shop? A steel mill? A mechanic? I have a Yellow Pages book, but no idea where to look. Or is this the type of thing I won’t likely find locally or be able to buy in such small quantities?
Is this the MPGQIMA (mundane personal general questions I must ask) forum?
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/2 "2010-10-07T13:47:18Z")
Metal work, Metal Shop, Metal Fabrication or Machine shop. Look under those categories.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/3 "2010-10-07T14:50:39Z")
I gather there are no music shops near you that carry these things.
Having a local metal shop make up one of each might make FedEx First Overnight shipping look cheap. Not to mention that your local shop may not be in the habit of making round rings out of 1/4" bar and getting set up for the project may be a low priority.
An alternative might be muffler shops or shops that build custom cars or motorcycles. These will often have hydraulic tubing benders. Whether or not they can run something so skinny might be an issue.
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### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/4 "2010-10-07T14:55:57Z")
Well, you sometimes see magicians using things like that… maybe a magic supply store? (Of course, you might have to buy a kit that includes trick rings as well as the legit ones.)
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/5 "2010-10-07T15:03:43Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> An alternative might be muffler shops or shops that build custom cars or motorcycles. These will often have hydraulic tubing benders. Whether or not they can run something so skinny might be an issue.
Heh … Orange County Choppers is right around the corner–maybe I can get them to build me a custom drum?
I was afraid of time-to-set-up costs and what-the-hell-are-you-bothering-us-for-three-dinky-rings annoyance, but at least I have some direction to make a few calls.
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### Author:  [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/6 "2010-10-07T15:35:59Z")
I have seen something kind of like that in a craft store. Not sure if they were 1/4" though. Plust they were chromed.
If you lived near me I could roll you up a couple for the cost of materials. But you don’t.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/7 "2010-10-07T15:55:01Z")
> [@justrob](#):
>
> I have seen something kind of like that in a craft store. Not sure if they were 1/4" though. Plust they were chromed.
>
> If you lived near me I could roll you up a couple for the cost of materials. But you don’t.
See, that’s the kind of person I’m looking to find around here. Someone who can roll them up without breaking a sweat and wouldn’t have to retool an entire shop.
Not sure about the craft stores or magic shops–the rings need to be fairly strong. The top two hold a skin stretched over the top of the drum, the bottom ring is stopped by the bowl. The ropes between the two are pulled pretty tight, and everything needs to remain fairly stable for several years.
Also, since the drums I’m working with are hand carved, the measurement needs to be fairly accurate–one needs an 8.75" and two 12.75". I’m not sure I’d have such luck finding those particular sizes.
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/8 "2010-10-07T16:19:56Z")
Is there some compelling reason you need to get these locally? The site you directed us to sells those rings for $8.00 each ($4.00 if you buy a bunch of them). No way you’re going to get them fabricated for less than that. Even if you could get them for the cost of materials, you’d be saving like, $20.00 at most. I don’t know how that could possibly be worth your time and gas money.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/9 "2010-10-07T18:25:14Z")
Complete whim. I’ve bought from the linked site before, I just thought that since there is such a close tactile relationship to the instrument (I assume it’s similar with others) it would be nice to get a touch more earthy-crunchy and start with a solid bar of steel. Hard to explain. It’s akin to why I do all the reheading work myself. It’s as close as I come to understanding the hunter’s outlook that it’s important to catch/clean your own meat once in a while.
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/10 "2010-10-08T00:04:02Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> it would be nice to get a touch more earthy-crunchy and start with a solid bar of steel. Hard to explain. It’s akin to why I do all the reheading work myself. It’s as close as I come to understanding the hunter’s outlook that it’s important to catch/clean your own meat once in a while.
Well, in that case, I’d find a local hobbyist blacksmith and whack some iron strip into shape on an anvil. That would be about as back-to-basics as you can get.
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### Author:  [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2010, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/11 "2010-10-08T08:02:57Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> As in the title, I need three steel rings, all ¼” thick, with 8–13” inside diameters, welded together (each ring welded shut, not all three to each other). I know where to get them [online](http://www.africanrhythmtraders.com/html/drumrings.html), but I’d like to get them locally.
>
> But where the heck do I go looking for them?
>
> Call a machine shop? A steel mill? A mechanic? I have a Yellow Pages book, but no idea where to look. Or is this the type of thing I won’t likely find locally or be able to buy in such small quantities?
> Is this the MPGQIMA (mundane personal general questions I must ask) forum?
If you have a local highschool around, ask the shop teacher if this could be doable.
Declan
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### Author:  [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/12 "2010-10-08T13:45:00Z")
> [@Declan](#):
>
> If you have a local highschool around, ask the shop teacher if this could be doable.
This is a really good idea. If the local highschool doesn’t pan out try a local trade school.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/13 "2010-10-08T14:31:12Z")
Wow, fantastic idea, thanks! And the blacksmith idea … there’s a RenFaire around here during the summer: what a great place to find one!
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### Author:  [@Moonshiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonshiner)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-3-steel-rings-steel-and-8-13-diameter/556353/14 "2010-10-08T22:05:54Z")
I’m a blacksmith and could make them for you, but since you want to find a local smith try New York’s ABANA affiliate: [http://www.nysdb.org/](http://www.nysdb.org/)