What size steel do i need

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I have just recently started welding and need more steel to practice with. i was using scraps but i have run out. i will be using a stick welder and will be getting my steel from tractor supply . this is just for practice and doesnt need to be over 20 dollars. what do you recommend
Reply:I recommend 1/4" or thicker plate. 3/16" if that's all you can find.I strongly suggest you find a steel supply, scrap yard, or welding shop that will sell drops or scraps. Buying steel at TSC or a hardware store is 3 or 4x the cost of new at a steel supply house. Plus, i've never seen anything that thick at any of them.Put your location in your profile and someone may be able to tell you where to find what you need or they may even have some scraps you can have.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:X2 on what Gravel said...I would only use TSC if all the other steel supply sources are closed and it's an emergency purchase.  Their prices ARE high!!  It's not the best steel you can practice on, but find some old bed frames, t-posts, shovels, hoes, lawnmower blades, leaf springs, old auto frame parts...something that has some thickness to it.  After all, it's just for practice, then hone your skills on regular plate, bar, etc.
Reply:1/4" is what we have students work with learning with stick. We buy sticks of 3" wide material and cut it in 6" pieces for practice coupons. 2" wide would also work ok, but it gets a bit tight when you start stacking pieces when doing T joints. The wider stuff is a bit easier to do "padding" on in the beginning. There you run a bunch of beads side by side until you get the basics or rod angle, arc length and travel speed down. You can just keep stacking bead on top of bead using the same piece. When I 1st learned we got a 12" long chunk of 1/4" angle to do this with, and we were expected to fill the whole angle up learning to run rods in the flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead position. Boring, but you got a ton of practice on minimal material, The "good" stuff was saved for once you had the basics down to save on cost. As others have mentioned it's a lot cheaper to locate a steel supplier than it is to get steel a a chain store. If you can't locate a steel supplier, you might also ask at local welding or fab shops. They might be able to tell you who they use, or tack your steel onto an order they are placing. They might even have drops or shorts they can sell you. Just remember they aren't in the business of selling steel. Try not to show up and bother them when they are busy. I'd ask if this is a good time to talk to them, and if not, when a good time to come by again might be. A lot of these places get bombarded constantly by guys looking for free scrap they can sell for money. You'll get more attention if you explain 1st you are learning to weld, and 2nd that you are willing to pay a reasonable amount for the material. If they give you free stuff, always be sure and return the favor, drop off a case of their preferred brand of cold ones on Friday, ask if you can buy them pies for lunch or whatever..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:Here is a quick Google maps search of steel supply near your zip code.https://maps.google.com/maps?q=27935&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&norc=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=fpxmVKigKcurogSK0oGQBw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&o  utput=classic&dg=brwGravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.