Steel... where?

admin

What are the most common ways (local and/or mail order) to get the steel?  I will be a hobbyist using small quantities.  I also will eventually want to work with stainless steel for marine use.  I think I need 316.  Is that right?
Reply:Your best bet is to find a local steel yard through the Yellow Pages. You may have to go pick it up if you don't want to pay for it to be delivered, but if you have a decent enough truck, it shouldn't be an issue.If Online is more your thing, there's http://www.metalsdepot.com/ . Their shipping is a bit expensive, as they are shipping lengths of steel/aluminum to you. But it does give sort of an idea of what your project might cost.The world is amazing when you are slightly strange.
Reply:Take a minute and add your location to your User CP at the top left so we know where you are located.For Stainless I use a couple of places that are semi local. Theres an old time hardware store thats not all that far that stocks steel as well as some stainless. They sell by the foot and the prices are not too bad. If I need full lengths I deal with Penn Stainless in Quakertown Pa. I believe someone here ordered from them and had it UPS'd to them. There's also a place in S Jersey that I use for steel, stainles and alum, Fazzio's. All these places are close enough I just go pick it up.For steel, I've got a good 1/2 dozen local places that do fab work that I can also get steel from, as well as 2 larger suppliers for full lengths and larger orders."Marine use" could cover a wide variety of things. I often use 304 SS for items that see use in salt water, but not constant use. Boat ladder parts, grapples, dive gear etc. The stuff usually gets rinsed down and seems to hold up ok. 316 SS is a better choice for corrosion resistance, but it's usually more money. I'd choose that for something that would see constant use in salt water. If this is for fresh water, you may not need the extra resistance of 316 SS and be able to use a lesser grade easily..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWTake a minute and add your location to your User CP at the top left so we know where you are located...
Reply:Hey, Inquisitor.See you are in Atlanta. I'm north of you in Dalton. There is a Self Recycling here and I'm pretty sure one in Cartersville. Maybe one in Atlanta. They let me pick through their scrap and pay $.20-.30/pound. Sometimes they have new drop material - short pieces from fabricators. I've seen pallets of 2" angle x 4', tube, etc. Another poster said the place in Cartersville sold new steel, but I haven't been there. Good luck. You should be able to find plenty of scrap to practice and for projects without breaking the bank.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:There are two steel yards not far from me. One of them sells off-cuts by weight. The other one is pretty disorganised and the off-cuts are all dumped in a bin. They let me pick through and take what I want. Sometimes, I take more by weight in off-cuts than I actually buy. I often take them a six pack of beer. The guys who run this place obvioulsy don't own it.And of course, being a hobbyist I can't drive past a bed frame without picking it up (much to my children's annoyance). There are also some industrial areas not too far from me and they often leave steel bits on the street.All of which means I have steel at home that I will probably never use.Yeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.
Reply:There's a place here in town called Steel Mart that sells standard sheets and lengths at good prices and drop at dirt cheap rates.Always check locally first, save yourself shipping fees.CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125
Reply:IMS ga SteelPheonix MetalsMetal SupermarketTull RyersonAll in atlanta. Google each name and that will get you the info.
Reply:I go to machine and fab shops for small quantities.  They usually just charge by the pound or 1/2 piece or close to it.  Look around, one of them in your area no doubt sells steel.
Reply:For regular steel I buy locally.I generally mail order small quantities of stainless or tool steel, usually from McMaster-Carr.   The last time I needed a sheet of Stainless, I went to Ryerson.  Ryerson has a $500 minimum, but I had a big project and the minimum was not an issue.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:The best place to buy steel in small quantities is from your local machine fabrication shops.  Usually they have odd length pieces and even full length pieces in stock.  They typically buy in large bulk quantities and often will pass the savings on to you and may sell to you by the pound.  Their "recycle" bin is often full of usable drops or pieces that ordinarily would be discarded.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Thank you everyone... specially for the one's here in Atlanta.
Reply:Originally Posted by socoj2IMS ga SteelPheonix MetalsMetal SupermarketTull RyersonAll in atlanta. Google each name and that will get you the info.