Where can I find junk-semi decent steel?

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Hello,I'm located in Northwestern MO and this is my first post here.  I have a couple welders - a cheapo wire feed and a buzz box DC inverter type.  One of my main issues is finding even small scraps of metal to practice on, let alone fabricate something out of.  Problem one, local welding guy that has all the good stuff is not nice to deal with so I try to avoid him like the plague.  Second, he upcharges like crazy!  Problem three, I have to use my dad's truck to do this, so he has to feel comfortable with whatever I'm after too.  Should I just order online and plan to spend hundreds?  Is that what most of you do?  I just want enough to build a welding cart or table for starters of some type, then maybe move on to a 30 galllon drum type stove for my shop.  I did call up some farmer buddies, and they have the same issue "not wanting to deal with the jerk", yada yada.  So any tips would be greatly appreciated.  This website is fantastic and continues to educate me and others who are not as in the loop as they should be.  Thanks for your help.Jarod
Reply:If you are just looking for coupons to practice on, go the the James F Lincoln foundation:  http://www.jflfoundation.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=44Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Make a steel run to the nearest town that has a good steel yard.It's the cheapest steel you'll get usually, other than a scrap yard.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:In reply to the 1st question.  Not really at this point, but thanks.  I saw those mentioned as I searched for this topic.  If anyone can point me to the cheapest online dealer of steel, imperfections or not, I'd really appreciate it!
Reply:Welcome! Ok how to get metal: First getting metal requires a truck. Steel is big and oily and dirty so your dad's truck will be your best friend. Second look in the phone book for a steel yard. They will have scrap bins full of drops (cuttoffs) of all sorts of pieces of metal left over from cutting something o length for someone else that you can get cheap. The best part is this "scrap metal" is brand new! Hope this helps.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:I have no idea of your area, but online and cheap don't usually go together. Especially with something heavy like steel, shipping would be a killer. I would just check the yellow page's, ( they still do exist).
Reply:You need to look and think outside the box. Trash days are often good times to look for scrap, assuming you can beat the scrap hounds to the stuff.  A gas grill can yield a bunch of square tube from the frame for building a cart for example. Bed frames while not the greatest stuff to work with will work for practice or a cart. Several guys have mentioned getting steel from packing crates of jet skis or snow mobiles, possibly lawn tractors... Talk to places that sell those and see if they are willing to sell any of that. Demo jobs some times have steel scrap. I've picked up a bunch of small sections of railing that I have cut up for stock. Dumpster diving behind stores that are remodeling is often good for all sorts of steel that was used for displays and so on. I managed to grab a bunch of 1" square tube stock that was originally used for display racks for a local fabric store that was remodeling. A quick question to the contractor who was lugging it all out to the dumpster at the end of the day scored me quite a bit of usable tube once I took out all the screws and cut the welded sections apart. He was more interested in all the added space in the dumpster than he was in the steel itself.Let your fingers do the walking and see what local places sell steel besides box stores. I have probably almost a dozen small metal suppliers near me as well as 2 large ones fairly close and 3 or 4 within an hours drive of me. The one local hardware store I deal with regularly has a decent selection of steel that they stock and are easy to deal with.Around here scrap hounds will pester places to death. No sooner to they send one guy packing, there's another one pestering them for scrap. All these guys want is for companies to give them stuff that they can sell and make money with minimal effort. No big surprise many places will show you the door before you even open your mouth as these guys are taking them away from getting their work done. Some times you have to show them you aren't looking for a free hand out. Offer money for scrap, show an interest in what they are doing beyond the material. In some cases you can use it as a "school" project where you have to inquire into a field that interests you as a future job. get talking to the guys, say at lunch or just before closing when they aren't as busy, and talk "shop" with them. You may find that they will offer scrap to help you learn if they see someone who shows a real interest in learning to weld. You can bring the subject up in conversion by asking where they get their material, or asking where the best place to get smaller lengths might be..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:Your profile lists the most vague "Northwest Missouri"but your first post is "where can I find..."I have no clue where you are, but getting steel shipped form an on-line purchase sounds expensiveYellow pages http://www.yellowpages.com/kansas-ci...ors-warehousesAsk them their price per poundhere I pay one price for hit rolled and double that for cold rolled.Knowing that I can estimate the size to weight and get the rough price.Scrap dealers sell higher than they buy, but you can still get some nice stuff much cheaper than new. maybe ten or twenty percent of new.http://www.yellowpages.com/search?se...sas+City%2C+MODo some searches like that, then pick up the phone and call them all, ask if they sell to cash customers, when you go there, ask to look though their cut off rack.http://www.wheelermetals.com/pages/deliverySee your city ?
Reply:Thanks for the suggestions, guys, now I just need to another town...  HaHa!  In all seriosness, thank you.
Reply:It's hard to help if we don't know where you are located."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:There is a guy selliing all kinds of drops on the Des Moines IA CL in the materials section.  Not really that far from NW MO if only making one trip with a pickup.  Check CL in your area.
Reply:Thanks for all the suggestions.  I did update my location so it's more specific, as requested.  I don't think it will help a whole lot, as it's a very small town.  My pickup and my dad's are pretty much limited to a 30 mile range, due to not being in the best of shape.  I did find a "Craig's Pipe."  A buddy said he might have something, so I'll explore that option.  I sincerely appreciate all the tips.
Reply:Like stated try craigs list. Go to the materials sections and type in steel . http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mad/5021503953.html ,    http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mad/5021503568.html
Reply:With my limited travel range, I'm going to have do as some members stated, and get creative.  Maybe some family will help out.  Thanks for all the help!  I appreciate it greatly.