Where to buy mild steel?

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I'm not looking for a specific location, it's just a general question.  The only places I know to sell square tube and round bar as well as sheetmetal are the hardware stores (Home Depot, ACE, etc) - and the prices are ludicrous.  $16 for a 12"x24" 24ga sheet!The point is I would love to 'play' more.  You know, recreate things that I could have easily bought just for the fun of it.  But at the hardware store prices, I can generally buy a finished product for less than half the cost of steel+consumables.
Reply:Where are you located in FL I can give you specific locations for the entire state.If you cannot convince them, confuse them.         Harry S Truman
Reply:Two sources are best for me as a hobbyist. The first is a large industrial metal supplier that is hobbyist friendly. I called them first and asked if they would sell a small order. They said, "Sure, just come on in," so I paid my money and got in line with the big trucks loaded with tons of steel and picked up my small order of a few sticks of steel tube. http://www.imsgasteel.com/They are the cheapest, at about 50 cents a pound right now for my small orders. The second is a welding and fab shop that I found in the yellow pages  that will sell their "drops" or even order for me. They are a bit more expensive, but still about 10 times cheaper than the hardware store or Home Depot. The sign out front that said, "No job too small," was a giveaway. (about 75 cents a pound).http://www.cjwelding.net/Either google or look in the yellow pages for similar places in your location and call them to see what they tell you.Last edited by smyrna5; 03-24-2009 at 02:23 PM.
Reply:The large metal suppliers that sell to general public are usually best.  A lot of them are willing to give you a great price, especially on drop offs, if you're willing to pay cash.
Reply:Originally Posted by 500HpSilveradoWhere are you located in FL I can give you specific locations for the entire state.
Reply:also thanks for the tips guys.  i'll have to go all low-tech and check the actual yellowpages as well
Reply:I guess I'm really lucky here.  The LWS is also the local steel supply.  I suppose it helps that it's in the middle of the old OK oilpatch.  Lots of fabricating and repair done locally."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Decided that for my first from-scratch project I would create a rear facing camera mount for my motorcycle.  I made up some ideas on the computer and went to the local hardware store to pick up some metal pieces.Here's the prices1" sq x 36" HR (16ga) - $13.993/8" rnd x 36" HR - 7.993/8" flat x 1-1/2" x 36" - $10.99Sure I'll have lots left over, but I dropped nearly $40 on the stuff!