Building - How to buy scrap?

[Kernopelli]

local scrap yard but I also watch the local auctions......I have bought a LOT this way and it's the cheapest by far. Hitting one Sat. A.M that listed "lot's of scrap". I have found that if they are listing lathes, mills welders, fabrication tools. etc., there will be steel for sale too.

 

[Aging TOO Fast]

local scrap yard but I also watch the local auctions......I have bought a LOT this way and it's the cheapest by far. Hitting one Sat. A.M that listed "lot's of scrap". I have found that if they are listing lathes, mills welders, fabrication tools. etc., there will be steel for sale too.

GOOD POINT!

 

[Texan4Life]

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.

Awesome never heard of them, but they have 3 locations in TX. gonna bookmark if I ever need some metal!

 

[MillWeld]

In the Durham, NC area I use J & D Recyclers. $0.40/lb for steel. Most of it is cut to lengths that will fit on a PU. It is sorted fairly wll so easy to find. They cater to small DIYers like me. They have SS and Al, too.

 

[kevindsingleton]

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.

I've been to Metals Supermarket stores, and they're doing a good job, but the prices aren't where they should be. I think someone is missing out on a great opportunity by not offering small quantities of metals at reasonable prices. The supply chain seems to be set up to accommodate the large buyers, with no consideration for those who don't need tons (literally!) of steel delivered to a job site. Given the high cost of shipping, I would think a small shed at the steel mill with a selection of cross sections and alloys at reasonable prices would be a lucrative undertaking.

 

[kevindsingleton]

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

I found a fab shop that assists me with steel purchases, but it's mostly structural shapes, since they don't deal with solids, much. There are also scrapyards that allow me to pick through their piles, and will often sell mystery steel for ten cents a pound. You'd think it would be easy to find such places in the steel buckle of the rust belt, but it isn't.

 

[dstig1]

Metalsupermarkets is actually decent, in my experience. When I compare prices amongst the 3 yards in the area that are willing to sell small stuff, they win as often as they lose. But here is a big key point - ignore the website prices. I first tried the website and then called the local store to see if they had what I needed in stock. He quoted me a price that was waaaaay lower than the website. Naturally I questioned him. He laughed and said "never buy anything off the website - just call us. They jack the prices up on the website as it is run by corporate but the stores are franchises" He was sure right about the prices. So before you write them off due to the web prices, I'd call.

The same is true of another local yard here that will cut to order and sells drops (huge selection of drops, BTW, if you are local, and they are roughly 1/2 price vs new): The Best Place To Buy Metals & Industrial Supplies Online | Buy Metals Online | Buy Industrial Supplies Online | Cut to Size | No Minimum Order | CNC Laser Cutting | CNC Machining The web prices are way worse than in person or calling in for pickup. Like 60% of the web price in person. Same deal. I verified it once on a couple things l was looking to get. They have a yard in Minneapolis and in Texas. For me they are a farther drive, but the drops are nice if you can find what you need, and they are big so they have pretty much anything you could want on hand.

My 3rd option is a smaller local yard that is great for cut to order on common stuff - angle, bar, round, simple tube -(and right down the road) but if it has to be brought in, their prices will choke you. So I use what works best for my needs at the time. I ran across these guys almost by accident through a small ad in the local free newspaper/penny saver thing.

 

[Willl]

"How to buy scrap?"

And go figure, I was trying to figure how to get rid of scrap !

 

[2458n]

Auctions work for me. If a farmer has a welder and a bandsaw there has to be some scrap somewhere. Many times a pile will bring 500.00 dollars. No problem, approach the new owner and see if he will resell you the stuff that you want. Now that scrap is 200 dollars a ton- even I can come up with a offer that will pay more then he will make by taking it to the yard. Last set of forklift forks cost me only 20.00 dollars. Most they can say is no.

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

I have dealt with MetalSupermakerket in Columbia SC for years. I agree with gentleman above about the in house prices way below the internet prices. I also love auctions. I got the welding table in the pic at an auction for $50. It turned out to weigh 850 pounds. The top is 1.5 inches thick. After i got the winning bid, I found out that a lot of "welding" scraps went with it. Including two full bundles of 1.25 x 1.25 tubing, 24 foot lengths. for 50 bucks, I got enough scrap steel to build the English wheel siytting on the table and a whole lot more.