Hello dialists: I would like to use a solid brass rod for the vertical gnomon of my new horiz. sundial. Because this dial is quite large, 60" X 40", the gnomon will be 12" tall. It needs to be sturdy enough so that it cannot be bent by inquiring little hands, at least 1/4" thick, I should think. (Is there even such a thing as a child-proof sundial?). For safety reasons and ease of shadow readings, I'll also use a brass sphere, 3/8" to 1/2" wide, either screwed or welded on top the brass rod. ( If I used a pointed sharp gnomon/style, I can just see the headlines: "Child Impaled to death on sundial!").
Anyway, my current brass supplier only has rods up to 3/16" thick, and I can't find small brass spheres anywhere. Does anybody know the name or tel. # of a brass supplier anywhere? I'm sure other dialists on the list could use this information also. Thanks again, John Carmichael http://www.azstarnet.com/~pappas
