Reply To: Arbor material?

[Bob Tascione]

Hi Vanhooglesnort,
Any high carbon round stock should work fine for you. Fortunately many watch/clock supply houses sell packages of blue steel often referred to as staffing or pivot wire. The blued stock is (should be but do file test the metal for hardness) tempered down to a simi-hard and tough level that is easy enough to machine without further annealing and hard enough for many arbors eliminating the need to harden after machined. In some cases a harder arbor or pivot may be called for or desired so hardening can be done after the part is machined. Also ‘piano wire’ is often used.
The following links may be of help: Especially the mile hi clock supply .pdf
https://www.blackforestimports.com/AdvancedWebPage.aspx?cg=648&cd2&FromPage=
http://www.ronellclock.com/Blue-Steel-Staff-Pivot-Wire-PW-51.htm
http://www.milehiclocksupplies.org/66.pdf

Hope this help Vanhooglesnort!
Bob