Sored some free steel

admin

Woohoo!  I local grocery store went belly up a few months ago.  Yesterday, I drove by and saw some guys removing the cart corrals and loading them on a long flatbed.  I asked them what they were going to do with the anchors, they said they are "nailed" down and usually leave them, but said if I could pry them up I could have them.The anchors are 3" wide, 5 feet long, and 1/4" thick flat stock mild steel.  The "nails" were garden spikes 12" long and 3/8" diameter.  Over the years the asphalt shrank and the "nails" came right out with out a problem.  There were 26 of these total!!!!The anchors have a tube about 6" long welded to the end of the flat stock perpendicular.  The legs of the cart corral drop over these pipes to keep the from moving around.So yeah, I have 130 feet of 3" x 1/4" flat bar for free.  Took about 15 minutes to gather it all up.  What would that have cost me at the stock yard?
Reply:$1.23 per foot for new in my neck of the woods. Good scoreDynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Great score - $.30-.40 per lb up here, if you're lucky enough to find it at a scrap yard.Miller Dynasty 200DXHypertherm PowerMax 45Victor OAIR CompressorLots of blacksmithing tools and other fun toys meant to creatively disfigure, reshape, manipulate and join metal.
Reply:I got a big piece free of scrap recently..1/4" plate, about 6-7" wide....oh...and 9ft long..hahah  It is kind of heavy.Hobart Handler 187Bainbridge bandsawMakita chop sawHarbor Freight 4.5" grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by jetlagI got a big piece free of scrap recently..1/4" plate, about 6-7" wide....oh...and 9ft long..hahah  It is kind of heavy.
Reply:Originally Posted by JC'sWeldingNow THAT is a good score.  Way to go!
Reply:I scored a 8" x 8" x .25 " wall square tube about 6' long. Thought, great! I cut it today to basically salvage the 4 sides for some ornamental projects and, as predicted, "ping"..I now have 4pcs of 6" wide x 6' long by .25 thk plate - only warped into about a 4' radius after all that residual stress let loose when I cut the sides free! Just trying to figure out how to straighten them now or just clamp them into position and weld for my project!Miller Dynasty 200DXHypertherm PowerMax 45Victor OAIR CompressorLots of blacksmithing tools and other fun toys meant to creatively disfigure, reshape, manipulate and join metal.
Reply:Originally Posted by jetlagYeah, the only problem I can think of is cutting it.  I'm not sure my chop saw will like this thick piece...I only need about a foot of it to make a motor mount plate for my go-kart.
Reply:I got five more bed frames today.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55jetlag - if you don't want to cut into that 'nice find' piece of 1/4" plate, I could send you a 12" x ??" piece for that motor mount.  A 12"x12" piece would cost $13.95 to ship USPS Large Flat Rate Box.  Better yet, send me a paper pattern and I'll plasma cut it out for you first.  Save that full sheet for a real nice work bench or two!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55jetlag - if you don't want to cut into that 'nice find' piece of 1/4" plate, I could send you a 12" x ??" piece for that motor mount.  A 12"x12" piece would cost $13.95 to ship USPS Large Flat Rate Box.  Better yet, send me a paper pattern and I'll plasma cut it out for you first.  Save that full sheet for a real nice work bench or two!
Reply:Now that I see that metal I had to go back and re-read your description.  I thought it read 6'-7" not 6-7" (as in 6 to 7") wide.  So much for those work benches and maybe you wouldn't want me to cut that motor mount out after all.I don't know how big that mount is going to wind up but the Small Flat Rate Box (5-3/8” x 8-5/8” x 1-5/8”) is only $4.95.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Me too.  I thought it was 6 foot 7 inches wide and about 9 feet long.  That WOULD have been worth the drive!
Reply:Hah, you all had me wonderin' for a minute...Either metal is really expensive, or you guys are crazy Hobart Handler 187Bainbridge bandsawMakita chop sawHarbor Freight 4.5" grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by jetlagHah, you all had me wonderin' for a minute...Either metal is really expensive, or you guys are crazy
Reply:jetlag, FedEx, NWA (Delta), Pinnacle or Mesaba?I'm in Olive Branch and could use that piece for one of my projects and can cut off what you need for your motor mount.  PM me.
Reply:Great score on that freebie metal for all the searchers. We have the Army Corp of Engineers removing old steel bridges between farm fields. The bridges haven't been maintained in awhile. So Far I have grabbed some great steel I beams and flat metal.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.