where to buy steel

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I am new to welding and just bought a hobart180.  I'm looking to get a large 4x4ft piece of 12ga or so for a project I started on my jeep.  I also would like to build a table to weld on eventually to, so I'll need some square or round tube and a big thick piece of steel to support at least the weight of a transmission (duel use table).Easton, PA would be close to me, but I'm having trouble finding a place that will deal with a residential hobbiest...and I also have no clue what costs what.  Any help would be great.  I'm going to explore the rest of this forum and hope to learn as much as possible from it
Reply:I buy specific items for my projects at a local industrial supply. I did not set up an account for the first year or so, but I should have done that right away. You need to call around and see what prices you get quoted, there will be a pretty wide range. This supplier will make one cut per piece so I can haul it in my small truck. If I buy a couple sticks of 20' angle iron I have them cut it at 10' or occasionally 12' or so to maximize the lengths needed for my project. They will deliver, usually the same day, for a small charge so if I am buying several pieces I let them deliver.There are 2 scrap yards that will let me look around and purchase items from them for around $.25/lb. I have actually found exactly what I wanted a few times and also picked up good items to practice on. Some scrap yards will not sell to the public.I hope that helps.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:i am very lucky that in my town is a scrap yard that sells steel at a dime a poundi also scarf stuff thats being demo'd on construction sites tghat i supervise
Reply:Maybe I've just been lucky or it's the area I've lived in but I have yet to find a suppler that wouldn't make at least 1 torch cut per piece and sell ten foot lengths. Sheet steel is a bit different. Many places will sell only full sheets. Many welding or fab shops that have a shear will sell cuts of sheet metal provided it's something that they keep on hand.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:thanks so far.i'm going to start making some calls to some local suppliers.  I need a big square of 12ga for a project and something like a big piece of 3/16 to make a heavy duty table to support transmissions.
Reply:Originally Posted by deathmobilethanks so far.i'm going to start making some calls to some local suppliers.  I need a big square of 12ga for a project and something like a big piece of 3/16 to make a heavy duty table to support transmissions.
Reply:Place I buy from sells any length, slightly higher for cuttoffs.  Half sheet minimum on sheet.Picked up 4 sticks of 3" 4lb channel for $41 per stick today.  It's finally starting to come down.  Around 50cents a pound if I read the weight right on the ticket.Time to get to the things I gotta do.  And maybe start buying for stuff that's coming down the road."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiActually the 12 gauge will support  transmissions give a good angle iron or tube frame. Find a good piece of heavy plate like 1/2 to 1"at a scrap yard because no that you have a welder there will come time that you need to give something the heat and beat treatment. You might faint at the price of a new sheet of plate.
Reply:You can try Weld Shops. Some will sell to the public.  If you need short, light stuff, some hardware stores carry that.  We have a supplier here in Harrisburg that sells to the public.  Too far for you to travel though.An Industrial Salvage yard is a good source of heavier stuff.  Frank Sahd Salvage in Columbia, PA has lots of stuff.  Again, too far from Easton.Let your fingers do the walking.  Try the yellow pages.  Call every scrap yard around Easton, and over in NJ.Good Luck.
Reply:thankswish someone more local to me could just say something like..."go here ----" I'm going to start with suppliers first.  There are only auto salvage yards near me, no where local to pick up a nice piece of 1" or anything like that.
Reply:Originally Posted by deathmobilehmm...when you say scrap yard, what exactly do you mean.  I didn't know you could buy steel from them, I have always brought old scrap (precious metals) to get money, but didnt see anyone picking anything up from there
Reply:I got steel from Easton Iron & Metal scrap yard in the past but haven't been down there in a while. They don't like to cut anything unless you take it all. There's a scap yard in Tatamy where I got some things but I went there about 2 weeks ago and they were almost empty. Barron's welding in Palmer Township is another source I have used. Good Luck this area can be tough. There was a place in Hellertown, I went to alot but they don't sell to the public anymore. There is another scrap yard in Phillipsburg you might check the yellow pages. Good Luck RON