Good places to find inexpensive mild steel?

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I live in Edmonton, Alberta, and I'd love to be able to try a few projects, but can't get over how much it costs to buy steel.Even at a discount hardware shop, simple 1" x 1/8" hot formed bar stock runs over $1.00 per foot, which seems very expensive.I know it'll obviously be a lot more than lumber, but surely there are cheaper ways to get it. I haven't been able to find any good scrap metal yards either - maybe because I'm not sure where to look. Anyone have some ideas? Also, assuming I'm buying in smaller quantities, what IS a reasonable price to pay for mild steel?
Reply:Never buy steel from a hardware store.Let me help you.Click here.  Then, here.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Hahahahaha!I had to click on the links just out of curiocity. Pretty cool. Let's add webmaster to your list of talents!Kudos!
Reply:Originally Posted by quarky2001I live in Edmonton, Alberta, and I'd love to be able to try a few projects, but can't get over how much it costs to buy steel.Even at a discount hardware shop, simple 1" x 1/8" hot formed bar stock runs over $1.00 per foot, which seems very expensive.I know it'll obviously be a lot more than lumber, but surely there are cheaper ways to get it. I haven't been able to find any good scrap metal yards either - maybe because I'm not sure where to look. Anyone have some ideas? Also, assuming I'm buying in smaller quantities, what IS a reasonable price to pay for mild steel?
Reply:Originally Posted by jmanQuarky....What is 1" x 1/8" hot rolled bar stock?  Do you mean 1/8" UP TO 1" bar stock?  I'm not sure what you're referring to...  Maybe I'm just not reading it right.  Anyhow, 1/8" should run about .10 cents/per foot while 1" could run you up to about $2.00/footAnyhow, I'm in Calgary and get a lot of my stuff at 'Federal Metals', including the pricing above.  They sell srap and NEW stuff as well.  Prices are REALLY good for BOTH and I'm pretty sure that there are at least the same kinda' deals in EdmonChuck...I'd try these guys first;  Maple Leaf Metals NEW and USED4510 - 68 Avenue  Edmonton, AB, Canada  T6B 2P3Ph: (780) 468-3951  Toll Free: 1-800-661-8118 Cheers,  /J....
Reply:Originally Posted by BikespotI think he means 1" wide by 1/8" thick. I just bought 40 feet of 1/16" wall 1" tubing.. 70$. Few months back i paid 50$ at another place. Just dont buy from any hardware stores cause they rip you off.
Reply:+1 on just about everything said here.Go to an industrial steel supplier. They will sell you scrap for next to nothing (the place I go to considers anything less than (but up to) 10' in length to be scrap). If you do need something full length (40ft) then that is much MUCH cheaper than anything home depot will sell you.Sometimes they will let me pick though the scrap skip and pull out stuff for free... if its small.
Reply:Originally Posted by m73m95+1 on just about everything said here.Go to an industrial steel supplier. They will sell you scrap for next to nothing (the place I go to considers anything less than (but up to) 10' in length to be scrap). If you do need something full length (40ft) then that is much MUCH cheaper than anything home depot will sell you.Sometimes they will let me pick though the scrap skip and pull out stuff for free... if its small.