Cost of steel?

[Metalman5767]

I've had good success with Steel Supply, 14130 West Rd, Houston, TX

 

[dgriff23@cox.net]

Don't know your plan but I used catwalk grating with heavy angle iron on each end. Much easier to use clamps and stays debris free.

 

[jwmorris]

That was what I was thinking but I have been getting some crazy numbers, like $1400 for a 4X8 1/2" A36 plate. so I'm looking for some comparable real numbers to educate my BS detector.

What are you going to do with it?

If you are going to cut it up and have a bit of drop left over, I have found that often I can have the parts water jet or laser cut locally for less than anyone local will sell me just one sheet for.

They purchase at much better prices than I get and the drop still has some value to them (Like they might already have drop pieces your project can be cut from, keeping them from having to use a new sheet). Lots of times I walk away with ready to use parts for less than a full sheet would have cost me before the work starts.

Thats coming from a guy that has his own CNC plasma and pantograph machines.

 

[DaBear3428]

I have a small machine/fabrication company not far from me. For my DYI projects, I can generally find what I need in their cut-off/left-over rack that they'll sell pretty reasonably.
Maybe you can find a place like this. Good luck.

thanks, i will look into that

 

[DaBear3428]

Don't know your plan but I used catwalk grating with heavy angle iron on each end. Much easier to use clamps and stays debris free.

got any photos of what you mean? sounds interesting.

 

[DaBear3428]

What are you going to do with it?

If you are going to cut it up and have a bit of drop left over, I have found that often I can have the parts water jet or laser cut locally for less than anyone local will sell me just one sheet for.

They purchase at much better prices than I get and the drop still has some value to them (Like they might already have drop pieces your project can be cut from, keeping them from having to use a new sheet). Lots of times I walk away with ready to use parts for less than a full sheet would have cost me before the work starts.

Thats coming from a guy that has his own CNC plasma and pantograph machines.

i will check into that

 

[mocassincreekranch]

I bought my plate, a 4x10 from a water utilities contractor that was using them to cover the hole they had dug up in the road.

 

[5030]

I've taken no less than 10 price increases on hot rolled steel sheet, plate and shapes since inflation has been the deciding factor and I don't buy foreign made steel either. Has to be marked made in USA or I reject it and I buy in truckload quantity only. Mostly from Alro or Contractors Steel and they deliver it to the shop. Had one truckload that had rectangular heavy wall (schedule 80) on it and the steel was stenciled .Made in Mexico and I rejected the entire load and when the rep called me, I reiterated to him I only buy domestic steel which he knew. When it came back out the second time, every stick was marked 'Made in USA'. Amazing. I only buy mill lengths (21 foot long in shapes) or full sheets of flat rolled material and I have the equipment to unload it as well. We not only have a back in dock for rear unload but a high lo big enough to unload 10 ton at a time side loaded.

My plasma table can handle full mill length sheets which can be 8 to 10 feet in length depending on the mill that levels it and / or the manufacturer as well as the alloy.

I do buy filmed stainless steel sheets as well, mirror polished on one side and filmed but that all comes from Carpenter Technologies in western PA and ships as an LTL on a flatbed truck. I only buy a couple sheets at a time for a specific recurring job. Carpenter is the only domestic mill that rolls 300 series stainless and it's very expensive. Always comes in the 4x8 configuration, carefully packaged as well. Quality, American made material, produced in a union shop by employees that care.

I don't ever sell cut off's either. My nesting program makes full use of everything I cut on the table. All that is left, I send to Omni-Source as scrap. In fact, I have an Omni-Source roll off can next to the shop for scrap.

 

[stuckmotor]

I have a small machine/fabrication company not far from me. For my DYI projects, I can generally find what I need in their cut-off/left-over rack that they'll sell pretty reasonably.
Maybe you can find a place like this. Good luck.

I keep reading about places like that. Unfortunately, I 've never found one.

 

[Jrasband]

I go to my local industrial fabrication shop and they source it for me and charge cost. I just got 3 20' sticks of 1 1/4" 14 gauge, and 1 20' stick of 1 1/4" 11 gauge for $190, it seemed lie a good deal to me.