Steel prices

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Hi,I am trying to get a feel for steel prices. The reason I am asking this is because I work full time and most of the local (KC) steel supply places have banker hours.So far about the best price I have found from a hardware store is $.99/ft for 1/8"x1.25"x1.25" angle iron which actually seems reasonable for a hardware store. They will also cut it at no cost.I am looking at buying some 1/4" rod, 1/8"x1.25"x1.25" angle, 1/8"x1.25" square tubing or 1/8"x1.5" square tubing.I know this is a broad question, just throw some prices out there. Thanks!
Reply:Just off the top of my head, I bought a piece of 1/4" flat, 6" wide, 5 ft. long for $17 last week.  6' of 1/8 X 6" was $14 the week before. As a rule of thumb, you'll pay double in a hardware store what you can get at a steel supplier.  Huge markup there.
Reply:We're running at .50/lb at the local steel supply.  That's for all shapes.  Cold roll round and square tubing is slightly higher, I can't remember how much.  Find a supplier that sells by the pound if you can.I'm lucky here.  The place I do business with will cut full sticks and sell part.  Again maybe a nickel a pound higher.Since the price came down, I'm buyin' like a madman  I'm hopin' to bring in around a ton in the next week or so.  Need it, so why not buy it when the price's down.It'll get rusty, but WTH.  All my projects get rusty because I work outside.  This way it'll be pre rusted"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:i just got some1x1x1/8 angle 20ft $18.712x2x14ga squ tube 24ft $50.821/2 solid squ 20ft $14.031x1x1/16 squ tube 20ft $25.95
Reply:Originally Posted by ed maci just got some1x1x1/8 angle 20ft $18.712x2x14ga squ tube 24ft $50.821/2 solid squ 20ft $14.031x1x1/16 squ tube 20ft $25.95
Reply:Originally Posted by Rowdiuswow, I just got a quote from Mueller for 1x1x16 ga, and it was $.41 a ft, or about $8.20 for 20ft.  $.61 a ft for 1.5x1.5x 16 gauge.Also, 1/2"x 3" flat strap for $2.90 per ft.
Reply:HakBot; I'm in KC too and find the best prices at Metal By The Foot east of downtown. Prices have fallen recently but I am sure they are cheaper than your hardware store. And I think Metal By The Foot is open Saturday morning if you can't get there during the week. They do charge $0.50 per cut but I think it's worth it. Steve JunkYard Tools .com
Reply:Cash is King !  Especially these days....I always pay CASH for my stuff and usually get a VERY good price on my Metal.I always make it very clear that I will be paying CASH and will NOT be needing a RECEIPT.I just picked up the following for $170 bucks (CAN$)  I figure I likely got the scrap for next to free based on the price I paid....-   5 lbs of Mild Steel- 18 lbs of Berillium copper- 36 lbs of Aluminum stock (assorted square, round, tube, sheet and plate- 25 lbs of 1/8" Aluminum Diamond Plate- 24' of square hollow 1" x .065- 24' of square hollow 1.5" x .100- 20' of flat stock 2" x 3/16"- 20' of 2"x 2" x 1/8" Angle IronCheers,/Jman...
Reply:I was just pricing 1" square tubing, 16 gauge -- the lowest I got was $6 for a 20' length.  The highest quote I got for the same length was $17.20.  It pays to shop around when you can.
Reply:I buy almost all my steel from the place linked below. Last year, I paid as much as $1/pound. Last month it was about 50 cents a pound, and as Sam said it doesn't seem to matter a whole lot what shape it is in. If you click on Products and select what you want, you can see how much each piece weighs (handy for estimating cost). http://www.imsgasteel.com/products/steel/index.htmlLincoln 175HD Miller AC/DC ThunderboltSmith AW1, Dillion (Henrob) Mark III, & Smith LittleTorch
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammThat's not too bad 1/2 x 3" flat weighs 5.1lbs/foot.  That puts you in the .60/lb range.  It was a lot higher a year ago.
Reply:Last week here in Texas:3/4" x 1/8" angle.  20 foot strip $10.75 (Alamo Iron, San Antonio)1" x 1/8" angle 20 foot $9.57 (Mueller Steel Buildings, New Braunfels)4"x4"x 14 gauge Square22 feet $37.20 (Mueller)"Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:Thanks everyone. I think I will go check out metal by the foot this weekend and load up.By the way, why is steel cheap now? I would have guessed it would be higher.
Reply:Originally Posted by HakBotBy the way, why is steel cheap now? I would have guessed it would be higher.
Reply:I really don't belive what I just heard!!! Got off the phone with metal by the foot. Here is what they quoted me:1.25"x1.25"x1/8" thick angle iron - $1.07 a foot1.5"x1/8" square tube - $1.97 a foot2.5'x3.5'x1/4" steel plate - $68.00How is a steel supplier more expensive than my local hardware store? I was expecting to pay something around 50cents a foot for the angle iron since what I can get from the hardware store is .99 a foot.
Reply:No weldor buys his steel "by the foot"  most comes in either 20 or 22 foot lengths.  That "by the Foot" place sounds like one of those cheesy rip-off 'Gold by the inch" stands."Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:Well I called about 8 places I found from a google search. I asked about 3 items:1) 1.25"x1.25"x.125" angle iron. Prices from this varied from $.65 to $1.10 a foot. About half required a purchase of a 20ft section. The cheapest place required the order to be called in at least 1hr ahead of time and the hours really suck (8-4 m-f)2) 1.5"x1.5"x.125" square tubing ran $1.25 to $2.25 a foot. Again some places required the purchase of a 24' section3) 2.5'x3.5'x.25" steel plate. Prices from $68 to $148! I assume some charged a ton for the cut. One place only sold a 4'x8' section for $163 however I don't think I would be able to get this in my truck. I doubt my angle grinder would handle cutting this.Cut fees varied from $.50 to $2 per cut on the square tubing and angle iron.I did find a scrap yard that charges .30 lb. Anyone have any luck in scrap yards? Worth it to even try?
Reply:The local metal supply here stocks metal in 20ft pieces.I bought 2 20ft pieces of 1x1x1/8" square tubing and it was $14 per piece!  But since I couldn't haul that in my truck they  cut it into 8ft sections for me for an extra $20.  The total came out to $51 and some change, but I thought that was pretty good.But I guess if you could haul 20ft pieces, that would be around ~.70 cents per foot.Hobart Handler 187Bainbridge bandsawMakita chop sawHarbor Freight 4.5" grinder
Reply:Mueller Steel Buildings (the cheapest locally) also does first cut free...two 10's fit in my Honda Accord with the trunk shut (actually many more than two would...probably 8 or 10.  They slip through the back (seat down), next to the arm rest, into the passenger footwell.  I carry 8' 2x4's , and when I open the runk to slip them in, folks always stop to watch...its like one of those clown cars in the circus!"Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:Originally Posted by jetlagThe local metal supply here stocks metal in 20ft pieces.I bought 2 20ft pieces of 1x1x1/8" square tubing and it was $14 per piece!  But since I couldn't haul that in my truck they  cut it into 8ft sections for me for an extra $20.  The total came out to $51 and some change, but I thought that was pretty good.But I guess if you could haul 20ft pieces, that would be around ~.70 cents per foot.
Reply:Couple good used steelplaces in KC, I drive out of there, get most of my steel for 30 cents a pound unles they raised it last couple weeks.On plate, custom cuts are expensive, since the dealer is stuck with whats left!BTW who had the 68 dollar taG ON THE 1/4 inch plate? I need a weldng table top!
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1 4 cuts for 20 buxMan I'd cut that **** with a sawsall in their lot
Reply:Hey try calling around to the scrap steel yards you might get some of the material which is still workable for a scrap price which might be cheaper. I've done that in the past especially if you are going to cut it into smaller sections.Weldor/ Certified Inspector
Reply:Originally Posted by HakBotI did find a scrap yard that charges .30 lb. Anyone have any luck in scrap yards? Worth it to even try?
Reply:About fifty cents a pound if you buy in quantity. Ten lengths each.        Sincerely,             William McCormickOriginally Posted by ed maci just got some1x1x1/8 angle 20ft $18.712x2x14ga squ tube 24ft $50.821/2 solid squ 20ft $14.031x1x1/16 squ tube 20ft $25.95
Reply:don bell in melbourne there hi but only 2 miles away where is A-1i herd apple machine in ft piercehas good pricesLast edited by ed mac; 11-27-2009 at 01:37 PM.
Reply:The quote I gave you was actually from Apple Machine not A-1Metals / Turner Machine, for some reason my fingers typed A-1 instead of Apple. My fingers would like to apologize  for the screw up on their part.I came upon this thread as I was on the phone ordering some materials from Apple Machine and asked for a quote for the items you listed, these are actual up to the minute prices.A-1 Metals / Turner Machine and Apple Machine are both on Orange Ave. in Ft. Pierce about a mile or so apart from each other.I am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:You guys don't even want to know what I pay for steel here in Germany.  We are down to about 5 dollars a gallon for diesel and think we are stealing the stuff. Not long ago I paid the equivalent of 400 dollars for two 20 ft steel pipe 2" x 1/4.
Reply:guy called me up last week and see if i could build him a chop saw utility cart i called the local steel supplier and 1 1/2 sq tube 1/8 th in is 3.94 a foot  so i called and told him what the steel cost and he changed his mindmiller maxstar 150   hobart handler 210 w mig conversion hobart 250 arc force plasma cutter    boston ind cutting torch miller performance auto darkening helmet milwalkee 14in chop saw 10,000 watt generator huge drill press and industrial band saw
Reply:Question for BassBoy1,I live in Dalton. Can you post or PM me the name and address of this place? It sounds like it would be worth my time to go check them out.I have a place here that I buy steel for $.20-.25/lb, but it is just hit or miss if they will have what you want.Thanks.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:PM sent.Who is John Galt?
Reply:Steel service centers, for the most part, unlike the views of many on these boards, are in business to make a PROFIT!!.    Now, ordering three feet of one thing, eight feet of something else, and delivering,,,,,    WHERE'S the profit???   Probably, a lot of these people complaining, are making $$$$$ per hour,,,,   but expect the steel loaders, and and the guys cutting steel, and the drivers, to be making peanuts per hour.