Where are you guys getting all your project metal?

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I was just wondering where most of you guys get your metal for all the projects? I've heard a couple places but it just seems so expensive to me.
Reply:in for ideas... last time i tried welding a bedframe it was a complete joke :P
Reply:i get mine from my local steel supplier.  New steel isnt all that cheap though,  especially if you are not a volume buyer.  I buy drops whenever possible to reduce the cost.XMT 350 MPa, w/D52-DTA 185 TSWHarris of
Reply:I looked up steel distributors and tried a few.  The first one was great but an hour away.  The next was was run by a bunch of jerks (went to shake hands when I first met the foreman and he just looked at my hand and walked away - the last $50 they will ever see from me).  The last one I tried was awesome!The folks I use (Morris Industries in Powhatan Va) do structural steel so they don't stock a lot of the smaller stuff that I use (1/8" angle iron, etc.) but if I call them they can get it next day usually.  I only spend $50-$100 per visit, maybe once a month but they are always helpful, they often give me deals on stuff they have laying around and even have given me steel for free when I asked how much for an extra piece.Search around, you will find a friendly and cheap supplier.  I spend $0.40/ft on the 1/8" angle that I use - about 10x more expensive at Lowes.  I bought a 4'x8' sheet of 1/8" steel for $91 a few weeks ago!They like to sell stuff in 20' increments but usually cut it to 10' pieces for free if I don't have my equipment trailer with me.It is a lot of fun to pay $8 for 20' of angle when Lowes sells a few feet for the same price.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:I go through a number of different suppliers, but I also keep in touch with a number of the construction companies in the area.  Alot of times the offcut lengths from the construction companies are around 5-10' of steel (type varies, and you don't get to go select exactly what you want though).  The upside is that they only get about $700 for a skid container full of steel from the scrap yard (something around 5 tons worth usually), so I get about 500lbs at a time for around $100.--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:I don't think it really matters where anyone else gets their metal, what you care about is where you should get your metal from.  I suggest looking at google maps for steel suppliers or steel distributors.  Check the yellow pages and such.  From there it is a matter of checking their websites for listed prices and/or giving them a call for pricing.  Shop around, I find that some places have one type of metal cheaper than the others and vice versa.  If you are seeking recommendations for places in your area, it would be pretty obvious that you'd need to specify where you are.Miller 330 a/bp water cooledI believe in gun control, I hold my gun with two hands.  If you want to know why, click here.Buy American or bye America.
Reply:Here in Houston, there are lots of metal supply houses...SSS, Double A and Steel Supply come to  mind.  Some less expensive than others depending on the spec and shape.Steel Supply has a drive-thru window!  Call in your order, drive thru to pay and get the ticket, drive thru the warehouse and they load you up, and you're on your way!  The warehouse also has the largest ceiling fan I've ever seen...over 20' dia.  Looks like something off an air-cooled heat exchanger.I've bought some stuff on-line and it's pretty pricy...Speedy Metals, On-line Metal, etc.But the worst is Home Depot or Lowes...won't go there again...about 3 times everybody elses price.Miller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:around me i have about 4 scrap yards getting metal from foundrys and oshkosh truck, pierce, ariens, ect. ect. so there are some good finds in the scrap yard around me. also some steel suppliers have scraps, or drops or what not that is a lot cheaper than new steel prices. call and shop around youll find a place.
Reply:I buy lots of junk at auctions for next to nothing , last week i got 8- 20foot pieces of 1 and 1.5" angle iron (Never used not rusty junk) for $12. I bought some paint racks ($8 each) 4 of em, had great 2" square tubing, 12 long.These were BIG "A" framed drying racks. I take my portable metal band saw with and cut it up there, then drag it home and stack it in my barn. Lots of great cheap finds out there. It's work though.......
Reply:where do you find auctions like that? I've never been to one
Reply:Originally Posted by Taidenwhere do you find auctions like that? I've never been to one
Reply:Steel supply warehouse.Prices aren't bad at all and I make it a point to stop by there, at least to dig in their scrap bin when I run out that way since the shop is ~30min away.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Here in the northeast i pay though my teeth for steel no matter where i go. it is awful.Miller Dynasty 300 DXMiller CST280Miller Maxstar 150 STH
Reply:Originally Posted by SilveradoHere in the northeast i pay though my teeth for steel no matter where i go. it is awful.
Reply:Southern Maine seems to be tough for finding reasonably priced metal. I will usually look for items I can take apart and reuse the metal.
Reply:Check with you local Yamaha dealer.  They ship sleds & wheelers in steel skeleton crates.  There is 2" X 2" & 1" X 1" tubing supporting the wrap.  When they get the crates in sometimes they need somebody to take the extra off their hands.
Reply:I get mine at Home Depot
Reply:Originally Posted by BerBer5985I was just wondering where most of you guys get your metal for all the projects? I've heard a couple places but it just seems so expensive to me.
Reply:Alaska Steel is good, but the branch in Soldotna is cheaper than Anchortown, go figure
Reply:we have 2 main steel supply places in town.  the thing about buying steel, is that you will find that prices are all over the place.  it's really unbelievable.   For instance,  one of our stores' is 30% higher than the other, almost every time I price metal.  I really don't know how they stay in business, but that's just how it is.   Neither business will sell their scrap at discount.  'back-in-the-day' a weekend welder could save a lot of money from the scrap pile.http://www.youtube.com/user/c599209/videos
Reply:Your local farm plumbing supply will have food grade quality tubing 304(with L) and 316(with L).They are mandated to atleast use those grades. Finding larger than 4" is usually hard though.