Where do you buy your metal stock?

[PILOON]

I really don't know what that bar stock I mentioned above is, but it took two recip blades to make two cuts. Either they were junk blades (possible, HF), or it's some fairly hard stock.

If your recip is variable speed, select a slow setting.

It is the hi speed that heats up blades and dulls them rapidly.

I once cut a 12 disk in 1/4" mild and only used I blade on the jig saw.
But it was a proper steel cutting blade with correct TPI.

 

[hosspuller]

I'm smiling today because I found a fabricator's candy store. Alro Metals outlet in Greensboro, NC No minimums and they stock drops and scraps along with "Prime cuts". Steel, Alum, Tool steels, Copper Brass, SS, plastics. 48 inch piece of 2x2x.25 square tube was priced at $44 (A Prime cut) ... But a 40 inch drop piece of the same was $18 I needed 24 inches. they charge by the pound for drops & scraps !

 

[Big Barn]

I'm smiling today because I found a fabricator's candy store. Alro Metals outlet in Greensboro, NC No minimums and they stock drops and scraps along with "Prime cuts". Steel, Alum, Tool steels, Copper Brass, SS, plastics. 48 inch piece of 2x2x.25 square tube was priced at $44 (A Prime cut) ... But a 40 inch drop piece of the same was $18 I needed 24 inches. they charge by the pound for drops & scraps !

I wish I had access to a place like that!

 

[BukitCase]

OK price on "drops", that 40" piece works out to exactly $1 per pound. Hate to see what they'd charge for a 20' stick of that tube tho - sounds like "prime" is more the price than the "goodness"... Steve

 

[hosspuller]

OK price on "drops", that 40" piece works out to exactly $1 per pound. Hate to see what they'd charge for a 20' stick of that tube tho - sounds like "prime" is more the price than the "goodness"... Steve

You must have a weight / inch chart … They charge exactly $1 per pound for steel drops. :thumbsup:

20 foot stick = 108 pounds = $137 plus tax …. Then .. SHIPPING via CC $729.78 :shocked: Glad they're local to me :cool2:

Online Metals Supplier | Metal Processing | Alro Steel

 

[Big Barn]

I just checked with my steel supplier.


Steel varies depending on whether it is structural, angle, flat bar, square tubing, Channel or wide flange.

Prices have been stable lately at $1 -$1.25 CANADIAN.

There have been some shortages lately due to pipeline protest rail blockades.

 

[BukitCase]

Hosspuller - https://www.farweststeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Combined2020.pdf

I use it enough I keep copies on both computer and phone... Steve

It WOULD be nice if my supplier did drops, etc - it's full stick only, 1 cut free - if it's early enough they're not closed (and I'm desperate enough not to wanna wait a day) I can go to their MORE local shop (15 miles) and cut a stick in half - it'll fit in my Subaru outback that way. Otherwise, call the main office (about 35 miles away) and get it delivered next day. Over $100 delivery is free, check that chart - doesn't take much (often just one stick) and it's over $100...

 

[Rustyiron]

I used to live by a decent sized steel fabrication Co. that let me in their 30yd roll off can. Boy was it a resource I miss now.
One day there was the end of one of their huge (like 30' long huge) beam fabricating tables, 10' X 4' X 5/8 sitting next to the dumpster, being the inquiring type I asked them "what's up with..." they were just waiting for an empty can to put it in. Told them I'd be back in half an hour with a trailer, and they loaded it for me.:cool2:
They did structural & railings, stairs and even enclosures for trash cans like in a mall or something. I loved finding the rolled pipe that was waste from "dialing in" their rolling machine for the right radius. They intrigued me but I never really found a use for these rings, so other than a few projects like a wood fire grill, they turned into this.

 

[Big Barn]

Hosspuller - https://www.farweststeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Combined2020.pdf

I use it enough I keep copies on both computer and phone... Steve

It WOULD be nice if my supplier did drops, etc - it's full stick only, 1 cut free - if it's early enough they're not closed (and I'm desperate enough not to wanna wait a day) I can go to their MORE local shop (15 miles) and cut a stick in half - it'll fit in my Subaru outback that way. Otherwise, call the main office (about 35 miles away) and get it delivered next day. Over $100 delivery is free, check that chart - doesn't take much (often just one stick) and it's over $100...

Around here they charge for delivery AND it used to have to be a $500 minimum order. It might be more now as haven’t needed any big orders for a few years.

 

[BigBlue1]

I'm smiling today because I found a fabricator's candy store. Alro Metals outlet in Greensboro, NC No minimums and they stock drops and scraps along with "Prime cuts". Steel, Alum, Tool steels, Copper Brass, SS, plastics. 48 inch piece of 2x2x.25 square tube was priced at $44 (A Prime cut) ... But a 40 inch drop piece of the same was $18 I needed 24 inches. they charge by the pound for drops & scraps !

That sounds a lot like the Coremark Metals place I was at today in Minneapolis. Exact thought when I walked in there... I'm in a man's candy store. Every type and shape of metal you could think of and all <10' lengths were in the showroom for self-serve. They said they charge not much more for 10' lengths than a 20' one (i.e. 2 x 10' is just a bit more than 1 x 20') so I just got all the stuff I needed that way. Stocked up on a bunch of extra angle and flat and some DOM so I should be set for a while. They also sell the scraps/drops by the pound. Didn't see the steel bins for that, but aluminum and stainless was a flat $2.50/lb.

Now it's time for the weather to warm up so I can get on to making my homemade lawn roller (out of an old steel water softener tank) and turning my stowable trailer ramps into flip-up ramps for my equipment trailer. The roller itself will probably only be about 500# filled with cement but I am making the frame so that I can slip on a bunch of my Deere 42# suitcase weights off the back of it for extra weight. Between my x758 and my 2520 I have more than enough weights to get the roller heavy. Going to put my Hobart 210 to work...

Rob