Building - How to buy scrap?

[AmericanTractorDriver]

Hello,

Does anyone here that builds their own equipment know of a way to buy scrap? Our local scrap dealer gets all kinds of goodies... I've even seen big spools of brand-new braided cable in their bins. I asked about buying scrap bars, and I'd gladly pay them a markup over what they pay. Of course, I guess they don't want to risk having me get hurt looking through their metal, plus I'd get in the way of their real business. But I thought it'd be great to find a 4' scrap angle iron that has 2-3' of straight length, etc. Anyone have any suggestions for finding scrap like this?

Oh, I should have added - are online sources like McMaster-Carr usually the cheapest way to buy metal stock, or are there sometimes local suppliers that are better priced? I have several ideas I'd like to build sometime, need to start planning and pricing....

Thanks.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I buy at a local satellite yard for a larger company. I used to buy from the smaller operation that was there before. Also a smallerlocal place I was buying from too but they went to no resale. THe company Im doing business with I often help spot items they need on their equipment. Like last week they had an electric forklift in and One of their shears uses the same type actuators. I pulled them off the lift and gave them to the manager for his parts bin.

 

[swick1]

Online is the second worst place to buy metal. Lowes and tsc are the absolute worst. Establish a relationship with your local fab shop.

 

[Agent Blue]

Were lucky in my area. I have several yards to pick and choose new and used steel. 35 to 38 cents a pound is the going rate. Everything is sorted so it is easy to find the correct size / type of pieces your interested in. My favorite is the new tube stock that is weathered so it is sold as used price. Another is flat steel cut offs in various sizes. 1/4" x 2" makes excellent brace material.

 

[happyhigdons]

My favorite is Pacific steel. They have a portion of the yard you can browse through, and it is much cheaper than new. They also sell new.

 

[Baby Grand]

Online is the second worst place to buy metal. Lowes and tsc are the absolute worst. Establish a relationship with your local fab shop.

So true. There's a family fab business near me and they're always happy to see me, helpful and give me great prices compared to retail.

 

[charlz]

There is a chain called Metals Supermarket where they specialize in selling to small users. Prices are not that much more than buying at a steel yard but they cut to length etc. usually without any extra charge. Steel yards around here really aren't that interested in cutting to length for short pieces etc.

 

[Scotty Dive]

35 to 38 cents a pound. WOW. I pay a buck a pound here in CT

 

[AmericanTractorDriver]

There is a chain called Metals Supermarket where they specialize in selling to small users. Prices are not that much more than buying at a steel yard but they cut to length etc. usually without any extra charge. Steel yards around here really aren't that interested in cutting to length for short pieces etc.

This is exciting to hear as it turns out there is a Metals Supermarket location not too far away. I tried to compare to Lowe's.

Metal Supermarket: Shop Steelworks Weldable Flat 3/8" X 2" - 4 FT at Lowes.com

Metal Supermarket: https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/Material.aspx?ProductId=MF4140CD/382

Is this the correct equivalent? The Lowe's listing is just "plain steel" so I did not choose hot/cold rolled on the M.S. website. However, M.S. only let me submit it for a quote?

Thanks.

 

[Aging TOO Fast]

there is a small family own steel shop I have dealt with over the years. I would raid the leftover shorter/ small piece cutoffs, they would save and sell. I would buy quite a bit of angle, channel, flat whatever, to have on hand for projects and work around the sized pieces I had.
Then they started several years ago selling the scraps for 75 cents or so a pound....... don't know what they are charging now. Last I saw the shorts/ ends pile was pretty large.

Went back to bigger steel suppliers for full lengths or keep my eyes open for salvage.
If I'm going to pay premium price, I might as well get virgin steel.