One thing I can say to do is use T-1 steel instead of A 36 mild steel the T-1 is a 100,000 psi steel and the mild is 36,000 psi steel.I build a brush rake for my mini-x and used T-1 steel and that stuff is tough.heres a pic of the rake!
minimax
We have alot of scrap HY-80 and HY-100 which is 100ksi as well. T1 or AR400 I will have to look for. I'm not sure how abrasion resist the HY (high yield) stuff is but the Navy likes it.
The good news and the bad news.
The good news: I can fit this in a half sheet of steel 48x48.
The bad news:
AR400 4'x8' sheet 3/8" $962 Can only buy full sheets of AR.
AR400 4'x8' sheet 1/2" $1200
A36 4'x8' sheet 3/8" $322
A36 4'x8' sheet 1/2" $422
I agree with MinMax on the A36 and I should be able to find T1 in between the two prices. I guess if I lived in Pekin IL. they would be throwing away AR plate from the CAT plant like we toss A36. I remember paying $10 a sheet for 1/4" just a few years back.