metal question

[corbin]

Hey where do most of you get your metal at? I just got a new welder and I was wanting to get into fabrication a little. Is there anywhere that sells it reasonably priced? Also, what kind of metal is good for fabrication? Any help is appreciated.

Corbin

 

[RonR]

If you have a surplus center in your area, that is probably the cheapest. All metal has really gone up in price in the past year.

When I started buying iron at this one local surplus place years ago, if you wanted a 6" piece of steel, they would hand you a hack saw and send you to the pile. Now, they have improved. They will make one saw cut for you free. A lot of time, I buy a 20' stick and have then cut it in half, so I can haul it in my pickup.

I also found a place that constructs metal buildings, and they will sell stuff to individuals. Theirs is new though, and priced accordingly. But if the surplus place doesn't have what size you need, you are in a bind.

Also, for small quantites of special sized stuff, I've order from Onlinemetals.com. There are other places as well.

 

[MadReferee]

Let your fingers do the walking and look under "Steel Distributors and Warehouses" in the Yellow Pages. Also look under "Scrap Metals". I am sure you will find plenty of places nearby.

Mild steel or cold rolled steel (CRS) is what I use. Thickness and type will depend on what you are attempting to build. Most salespeople at a steel distributor will help you.

 

[mark777]

Curious, what type of fabrication.....what are you going to design, build....attachments? Implements? Something way different perhaps? Good Luck.

 

[bobodu]

Love those surplus and scrap yards!! Another possibilty is to load up the wife and kids and take a Saturday drive in the country.I get lots of oddball stuff from farmers."course,ya may not find what you're looking for...unless you can see into the future /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Can't count the number of times I've needed something on Tuesday that I saw on Friday! My motto is..." If it's free...take it".

 

[horseman1]

I went down the the scrap steel place at lunch looking for a 3 1/2 " angle iron. Found just what I was looking for and the guy running the place said "this one is on me". Pretty cool, since their prices have gone up to 25 cents/pound now. Seems to have gone up a lot since the last time I was there. Scrap yards are like paying to dumpster dive without the hassles!

Kurt

 

[dfkrug]

My best sources for steel (mild, sheet galv and stainless) include:

> my local welder/fabricator (free)
> the Kubota dealer's shipping crates (free)
> PDM Steel Service Center (for new plates, angles, sheets, etc)
> recycling yard (variable price and product)

 

[dfkrug]

Many welders and fabricators are happy to get rid of their scrap steel for free since the cost of recycling it rarely equals the scrap value.

If you have seen how a new L-series Kubota is shipped, it is amazing how much usable scrap the crate contains.