Where to get material (steel and angle)?

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:28:44 GMT

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Hey folks, I had a question about material. Where do you get your material to build? What kind of places should I be looking for that can sell this to an individual. I'm just curious, because as a rookie, I'll need to get my hands on some reasonalbly priced material to practice and such.I might need flat steel and later some angle to build tables and similar simple projects.Thanks,HD
Reply:hd883chopper, it would be useful if you posted your location, because then members in your area could recommend specific places to go or to stay away from in your town/city.  The best places I would say are metal supply houses and scrap yards depending on what you want to make.  To practice welding its best to get scrap which you can clean and use (scrap usually sells for less than 50c a lb).  Metal supply houses will generally have new steel and remnant/drops which can be had for cheaper.  The steel supplier near me sells drops/remnant for 50c a lb and the new stuff is slightly more expensive depending on what you get.
Replyook up 'metal supply' in your local phone book, then go to your local metal supplier and see what they have.  If you don't see it, they can usually order what you need.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:its like buying your next toolshop around
Reply:Try Besco Steel they will sell small quantity and no need for an account.  They are are off Briley Pky at Centennial
Reply:Originally Posted by MikeHTry Besco Steel they will sell small quantity and no need for an account.  They are are off Briley Pky at Centennial
Reply:Besco is a decent place to go, but I go to my local welding shop and buy most of my steel from them. The truck runs every day so whatever I need is there the next day. Since you are an individual most metal supplies will charge you an "individual" price. Whereas the weld shop gets a commercial discount. "Usually" the discount falls out for the weld shop as their profit off of me and I pay the same no matter which I buy from. Do educate yourself though and don't pay out the nose.I have a decent relationship with the local weld shop and now if I need any nickel and dime stuff instead a whole piece for a small project I can get it pretty cheap; where as whole pieces are usually sold at the retail end.This may or may not work in your area but it works for me.
Reply:Originally Posted by minnerBesco is a decent place to go, but I go to my local welding shop and buy most of my steel from them. The truck runs every day so whatever I need is there the next day. Since you are an individual most metal supplies will charge you an "individual" price. Whereas the weld shop gets a commercial discount. "Usually" the discount falls out for the weld shop as their profit off of me and I pay the same no matter which I buy from. Do educate yourself though and don't pay out the nose.I have a decent relationship with the local weld shop and now if I need any nickel and dime stuff instead a whole piece for a small project I can get it pretty cheap; where as whole pieces are usually sold at the retail end.This may or may not work in your area but it works for me.
Reply:I use one of the steel suppliers in Minneapolis because they will sell drops. Much cheaper that way. Earlier this week it was 0.50 #. The only drawback is I have to go and look as drops aren't inventoried so calling ahead doesn't work.
Reply:Ask your local welding supply store.
Reply:guess Im lucky in my area I have 2 metal suppliers  The one is a scrap yard on one side and a huge metal shop on the other.  I can buy full sheets or drops or anything outside (drops that sat in the way wrong cuts, full sheet of plate up to 4" thick you name it pipe round stock you get the point is 0.35 # and that is after the increase 3 months ago it was 0.25# I get 1/4" plate drops that are 8" x 42" by the pallet or by the piece for 0.35 #Hypertherm PM 1000 on a CNC TableMiller Maxtron 450 - S52A series feederHobart Handler Lincoln 155 (my sons he's 11)looking to sell or Trade a RFC-23A foot pedalCustom diesel parts fabricator
Reply:I deal with Oneal and KGS. There's acouple scrap yards local to me, that I stop and pick thru aswell.
Reply:I'm heading down to our shop in NJ tonight to look at some work I designed.  They're fabbing #1 World Trade there (aka the Freedom Tower - talk about some heavy fabricated columns and trusses), and I'll load my car up with small drops and scraps before I leave. But I also just bought some 2x2x3/16 tube from Rochester Steel (prime) for a little under $1/lb, a 12' stick cut into four 3' lengths.  They've been pretty good to work with, and they have a surplus inventory that sells for even less.I used to work in a scrap yard many, many moons ago.  We sold to the public, though the stock racks weren't organized beyond the angle pile, the pipe pile, etc.  But we sure sold it cheap.
Reply:Is $.50 per lb about the norm? Or does it change depending if you want angle or flat?
Reply:I have a few lengths of 8x8x1x40 I can make you a screaming deal on, if you take it all.
Reply:Originally Posted by CUOFFROADAsk your local welding supply store.
Reply:Chopper, given you're looking for stuff to practice on, you probably keep your eyes peeled for bedframes that people toss out. I embarrass my kids all the time by stopping on the side of the road to pick up bits of steel.I've got a big metal supply joint and a small one near me. The big one keeps a tight rein on their left over bits. The small one just dumps everything in bins. I go down there on Saturday mornings (they're more relaxed then) when I need stuff. I'll buy $50-100 worth of steel and ask them if I can look through the bins. I always get more free stuff out of the bins than I actually buy. About every second visit, I take them a 6 pack of beer.ScottYeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.
Reply:Originally Posted by scott brunsdon About every second visit, I take them a 6 pack of beer.
Reply:If you are a bargain hunter....Watch for auctions.   Industrial auctions....farm auctions.   If you are lucky You can get lots of metal at some really good prices.  Some scarp buyers will have materials for sale.   The last I bought was .39 a pound.In the north Texas area we have metal stores and such where you can buy new and used.Gets pretty expensive. Ask your welding supply dealer he can probably give you some leads to your area.
Reply:If you have any friends/relatives in commercial construction, ask them about scrap from jobsite. I run a commercial excavating company and ,almost always, when we come back to do final grade around building, there are piles of unwanted "trash" we have to get out of the way. All sizes of angles, channels, plates, rebar etc. All the structural shapes are A36. All kinds of stuff to practice on, projects etc. This stuff will get trashed out if it isn't taken. In this respect, I'm lucky, as I rarely have to pay for any steel.
Reply:KGS steel  -- sell no minimum. However 20ft minimum length. They may  charge you  for cutting smaller. Primarily a steel vendor.Metal Supermarket.  Sell small quality and variety of metal.  They get steel locally so, think about what you purchase, If you can haul 20 feet KGS, Besco, or Loftis will do better on price.  Vaughn Manufacturing, sell scrap cold rolled and D2.  Small solid round and rect.Duck welding.  variety of scrap metals Al and steel.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderKGS steel  -- sell no minimum. However 20ft minimum length. They may  charge you  for cutting smaller. Primarily a steel vendor.Metal Supermarket.  Sell small quality and variety of metal.  They get steel locally so, think about what you purchase, If you can haul 20 feet KGS, Besco, or Loftis will do better on price.  Vaughn Manufacturing, sell scrap cold rolled and D2.  Small solid round and rect.Duck welding.  variety of scrap metals Al and steel.
Reply:Hope I am not hijacking, but several people mentioned bedframes. I have heard that you don't really know what metal they are made of and welding them can be difficult if not impossible. Which would be a problem for a newbie like me. I'd tend to think it was my welding that was the problem. Was I mis-informed? Thanks,RussRIP Mallory, we miss you.
Reply:I've heard the same, I think bedframes fall into the "mystery metal" category. Stories claiming a wide variety of success/failure are out there. I have never welded any as,see above, I've had access to plenty of other known grades.