Where do you get material

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I'm a new welder and have a few projects in mind but I'm having a hard time finding material for it.  Where do you guys buy materials such as rectangular tubing and plate?
Reply:My lws has a steel yard.
Reply:You can google using the search term "steel supplies" and your city/state. I get different results when I use "steel suppliers" so you might try both. That will return steel yards in your area. Some scrap yards will let you browse, others will not for insurance purposes. Onlinemetals.com has % off sales every now and again (sign up for emails) but shipping can be prohibitive.Lowes and Home Deep carry steel too, but over priced- I reserve those visits for emergencies only. What kind of projects do you have in mind?
Reply:Hey, Dan.asdf is correct. Call around and get prices from actual steel suppliers in your area. Ask if they are ok with small quantities and even if they deliver. Pick one and get to know them and so they know you. We have 3-4 close by, but one is easy for individuals to do business with. They close early during the week but they are open on Saturday. And they will deliver to my house for same price as pickup. I try to buy everything I can from them and opened an account. As you know, pricing will vary so having an account helps them to give you a price right then. Otherwise, you likely will pay the highest price. If I only need a couple of pieces, I will always pick up myself and they will cut to fit in my truck at no charge (1 or 2 cuts/piece). If I can put together an order around $100 or more, I call and let them deliver at their convenience - usually that is the same day.Hobbiest are a pain if they complain about price, or want immediate service when the trades guys are there first. I try to be polite, don't haggle on price, and know a few of them by name. They treat me very fair.I also buy some scrap from one of the local scrap guys, but they are now charging about the same price as new. Used to buy for $.25-.30/pound, but now at $.50+ it's not worth the cleanup. I'd rather get exactly what I need for my project than try to make do with odd scrap pieces. If you can find a scrap yard or fabricator that will sell drops, that is sometimes worthwhile.Make friends with a few guys at a fabrication shop, tell them you are a new welder, spend a few minutes listening to them and learning their names. Doughnuts, pizza, and beer on your second or third trip work wonders too! They will give or sell you some scrap to get you started.Don't ever buy from the big box stores. They charge 4x the price at a steel supplier. I've compared over and over - 4x everything.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:If you post your location you may get suppliers near you that members have purchased from.
Reply:a couple of online places - also  great for material specification'swww.speedymetals.comhttp://www.onlinemetals.com
Reply:Scrap yardold Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1If you post your location you may get suppliers near you that members have purchased from.
Reply:Well I'm in south west New Hampshire, south of Keene if that helps.
Reply:I buy local from Mac Steel in Rutland VT. They are good people. Those who use large volumes of predictable commodities invariably use Albany Steel. While Mac isn't cheap, they are close, jump through hoops to take good care of me, and usually have everything I need on hand. In a pinch, the owner can provide info about metallurgy.
Reply:Along these lines what is an example good price for a sheet of 1/2" x 4' x 6' steel for a welding table?One local Mississippi supplier had some in stock and I'm going to need a table.Note he charged $8 for a 6' x 2' 11 gauge sheet I bought to patch my rotary mower deck.
Reply:Used a lot of old bed frames for stuff.Charl
Reply:If you're in the mood for a road trip, try Sullivan Steel down in Worcester MA, or their other location in Holyoke (Zap, idk if you've been to/heard of these guys but this is for you too) they stock and enormous amount of metal, of virtually any material, from 22 gauge aluminum to 24" I beams, they have it all. I buy a lot of ornamental iron for railings from them, always a pleasure to deal with, even in Im only buying $40 bucks worth or $4000, always great service, i can recommend these guys enoughMiller Spoolmate 200 w/t S-52 WirefeederMM 211'09 Miller Trailblazer 302
Reply:Try Yarde Metals. They have a NH location. They also have something called the DROP ZONE where all types of off cuts are offered at some decent prices. I get next day delivery from them. Just be aware that a lot of steel tubing comes in 24 foot lengths, angle iron usually 20 footers.
Reply:Infra metals is a national wholesale supplier. Dont buy steel from welding shops they are crazy ridiculous. Ive been quotes 280$ for the same I can get from my wholesale supplier for 40$ with delivery, and it will be clean steel. Welding shops and scrap yards will have rust, paint, welds, etc
Reply:List for you...http://www.thomasnet.com/new-hampshi...0330202-1.htmlAll in N.H.If you go to Aliant tell Rayelyn that Steve R. The drummer from Franklin says HI!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Where ever you get material stay away from the big box stores they charge 10x as much as a steel supplier fastenal has reasonable prices on small quanities .gxbxc
Reply:And some steel suppliers are nut's to on the prices. One guy quoted me $158 for a 10ft 3x3 1/8in thick square tubing.
Reply:I had a quote from a supply in Colorado Springs of $754 for one length of 1" square 16 gauge aluminum tube.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Loses wants 6.50 for a 3ft piece of 1in 11 ga hot roll flat bar. Tampa bay steel gives me them for 3.50 for a 21ft section.
Reply:Scrap metal on the side of the road  i can fit in my car and a local steel supply.  Big box stores are way overpriced.
Reply:There are two major steel yards within 5 miles of my home, I use one of them regularly. They don't even have a minimum.There is a large scrap yard about about 15 miles from my home, I go there too sometimes, especially when I need pipe.MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:two places I know of that are within 20 miles of fitzwilliam. both in gardner, ma - kirk eastern and wicks welding. there're a few other welding shops in the area.kirk eastern makes steel tube of various shapes/sizes (22ga - 10ga) and wicks has heavier stuff like plate and channel.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI had a quote from a supply in Colorado Springs of $754 for one length of 1" square 16 gauge aluminum tube.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumOne local supplier gave me a 10 foot length of 3/4" x 1/8 wall square aluminum tubing for nothing.  I mentioned it was for the local high school robot team.  A local machine shop owner turned down a couple small steel shafts to fit a coupler, no charge. Our big metal supplier in town let me freely wander their warehouse to search for drops and whatnot.  Gave us a good price as well.When you find one and decide to stop in don't be afraid to say "hi I'm a new welder and was wondering if I could buy some scrap to get some practice welding on" even if you know they sell it. I did that at my local place (Mac steel the place Willie mentioned) and the guys that weighed my metal told me that it would end up costing me 40 cents a pound. When I went in they only charged me 33 cents. A pretty good difference.Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder
Reply:"Along these lines what is an example good price for a sheet of 1/2" x 4' x 6' steel for a welding table?"best to search for industrial surplus and scrap yards because material that thick is pretty expensive newI got a 4x4' 3/4" table off craigs list for $120, it was $550 new, granted it was rusted up and took about 4 hrs to clean up.
Reply:Originally Posted by newburyAlong these lines what is an example good price for a sheet of 1/2" x 4' x 6' steel for a welding table?One local Mississippi supplier had some in stock and I'm going to need a table.Note he charged $8 for a 6' x 2' 11 gauge sheet I bought to patch my rotary mower deck.
Reply:Search local supplier in your city and use them.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumOne local supplier gave me a 10 foot length of 3/4" x 1/8 wall square aluminum tubing for nothing.  I mentioned it was for the local high school robot team.  A local machine shop owner turned down a couple small steel shafts to fit a coupler, no charge. Our big metal supplier in town let me freely wander their warehouse to search for drops and whatnot.  Gave us a good price as well.
Reply:One of the big metal yards here  https://www.facebook.com/DiscountSteel?fref=nf     decided to open a "Retail Center" where they sort drops into bins and shelves.   Also a selection of full length normal size stuff.   Is this a trend happening in the industry ?   For a hobbyist like me it is really nice to now be inside a dry, heated room and they staff with people eager to help.   I no longer have to flag down a guy zooming by on a forklift.  But the best thing about it is I can almost always find a drop in the size I need near the length I need so I don't have to pay a cutting charge or end up with so many high priced scrap pieces lying around my place getting rusty.   At first I thought that maybe their lawyers told them to stop allowing the public access to the yard cutting their heads open (geez head wounds bleed a lot) and smashing their fingers while sorting through racks of heavy steel.  Initially I was disappointed that I couldn't browse around the yard, but now prefer to "shop" in the retail center as it is well organized and well staffed.  I can get in an out during my lunch hour.  They also told me last time I was there I can still go out into the yard if I need to look at bigger pieces.