Where do you buy your metal stock?

[Cord]

From the Milwaukee area, I've ordered online at Speedy Metals Online Industrial Metal Supply and they have done well for me.

Speedy Metals Online Industrial Metal Supply

They will cut stock to the length you want and package it nicely for shipping.

Yep, been using Speedy for over a decade. Had a problem a few years ago and I posted a negative Google review. A few days later, the president called me and we discussed the problem. In exchange for taking down the negative review he upgraded me to a Gold account. It痴 good very a very nice discount. Given that I知 ordering several times a week, it has really paid off. It痴 pretty nice being able to order a chunk of metal in the morning and then pick it up on my way home that night.

These guys have a more national appearance: Metal Supermarkets | Steel, Aluminum, Stainless, Hot-Rolled, Cold-Rolled, Alloy, Carbon, Galvanized, Brass, Bronze, Copper. I tried them a long time ago but they were not capable of 田ut exact? This is something that Speedy excels at.

If you are in the Milwaukee area, I just found Aaronin Steel Sales Inc. They appear to have the same capabilities as Speedy, but less inventory and less overhead. Might an option to try.

It痴 a bit of a haul, A.J. Anich Lumber-Pal Steel Co. (aka Pal Steel) has to be the cheapest metal around. Because of the trip time, I only go there for the largest of orders. I値l probably give Aaronin a try next time because it値l cut 2 hours off the trip.

I used to have a couple of scrap yards that moved some used metals for great prices, but they致e since closed. I don稚 know any that have replaced them. Miller compressing used to be my favorite.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Out of curiosity I've priced the online sellers; makes me REALLY glad there's an actual steel supplier close to me (main branch about 35 miles, "local" branch 16 miles)

They deliver from the main branch, free for over $100 order (useta be $50). These days, 1 stick (20 or 24') costs that much, so deliveries are ALWAYS free

I tend to use square tube for a lot of things, like the look AND the increased torsional strength. I normally keep at least 1 stick of several sizes/wall thickness, up to 2.530" receiver tube. In 2" I usually have .095, .120 and 1/4" wall around. There's about 8 sticks of .120 wall 1-1/2" tube on the rack atm, along with 15 sticks of .120 wall 2x2, 20 sticks of .095 wall 1", couple sticks of 1-3/4 x .120 wall, couple 2" x .250 wall, few sticks of unistrut, some barn door track, probably missed a few...

Usually keep 3 or 4 different sizes of angle, some key stock, flat bar up to 3/4" thick; whatever I tend to use enough of.

Rarely use the local "scrap" dealer, they seem to copy the current NEW price per pound for their pricing structure.

Next door neighbor runs a custom car shop, he and a couple of my friends know that if I have a particular size/shape around they can get it in whatever length they need - I charge them whatever I paid per pound, no charge for the cut. I don't bother to weigh for this, just use this chart

https://www.farweststeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/FWS-Weights-and-Gauges-2019-combined.pdf

I use that chart so much I also keep a copy on my phone - it's nice to know BEFORE you try to lift whatcha built, whether you should use a crane or not ... Steve

Last couple years mild steel runs within a nickel of $1 a pound in most shapes...

I'm guessing Cherry City is the local scrap dealer you mention, I was there yesterday and bought some material, it was $.55 a pound for mild steel. I agree they have their downside but being open on Saturday and having an assortment of offcuts is nice at times. Buying something common for retail price they are crazy since everything is rusty... and most of their prices for the random stuff there are INSANE, I've asked about the pile of chainsaws (sitting outside for many years) and they wanted $50 each when I asked...

 

[BukitCase]

Nope, I go to Cherry city maybe once a year with a bud that likes to browse. The scrapper I referred to is Burcham's metals in Albany. Once in a while they may have something interesting, but most of the time when I'm fabbing something I just wanna decide what I WANT it made out of, not what I can cobble together. I'm willing to pay new price just to keep from chasing my tail for more hours that it'd take to "just do it".

I'm just a DIY guy with too many ideas/projects; between 2 different steel racks and 2 different containers, I probably have 4-5 tons of new steel on the place - some of it's earmarked for several projects, others are leftovers or "general stock" of stuff I know I'll use.

I treat that similar to nuts/bolts/screws; I have steel divider drawers for everything from 1/4" to 3/4", including regular nuts, nylocks, wing nuts, coupler nuts, lock washers, bolts from 1" to at least 6" in all those sizes, lags, a few plow bolts, etc, usually in 2 grades - it's a 30 mile round trip to Albany, so I keep a list of "low stock" items on my phone and re-stock when I'm in town.

Most of the time that means I can use at least a dozen of anything I stock WITHOUT having to make a special trip. There was an exception to that a couple days ago, needed 3 flat head machine screws (don't stock 'em) - $1.20 for screws, $3 for gas If that happens a couple more times, there'll be a new drawer in the bolt stock :thumbsup: ... Steve

 

[Diggin It]

That supermarket place?

Item Description 				Dimensions 	Quantity 		Price
STEEL-HOT ROLLED ROUND BAR A36		1.00"		12		$31.96
(1.000 ST A36 ROUND BAR)
Sku: HR1
	
Weight: 3 LBS Per piece price: $2.66

I got a 16' stick for $10.00 at a scrap yard. Yeah, it was a bit rusty, but so am I.

 

[Diggin It]

Yep, been using Speedy for over a decade. Had a problem a few years ago and I posted a negative Google review. A few days later, the president called me and we discussed the problem. In exchange for taking down the negative review he upgraded me to a Gold account.

And THAT'S why reviews are so meaningless. That's basically bribery and the company president should be prosecuted.

 

[duramaxsky]

And THAT'S why reviews are so meaningless. That's basically bribery and the company president should be prosecuted.

Not if they fixed the problem. In that case they did the right thing by the customer. Seems like the right thing to do.

 

[ruffdog]

Not if they fixed the problem. In that case they did the right thing by the customer. Seems like the right thing to do.

It is called customer relations.

 

[BigBlue1]

Checked around at a couple of the suggested places in the Minneapolis metro area and my closer machine shop. Prices vary quite a bit.

For two sample sticks here are the prices I found:
A: 2x2 1/4" angle - 20'
B: 3/8x3" flat bar - 20'

Metals Supermarket: A=$66.02, B=$85.71
Coremark (was Discount Steel): A=$34.00, B=$45.97
semi-local machine shop: A:$63.80, B=$76.60

My machine shop charges a flat $1/lb and I got weights off of another online seller's web site. I assume they are pretty accurate. A was 3.19 lb/ft, B was 3.83 lb/ft

Rob

 

[Diggin It]

Not if they fixed the problem. In that case they did the right thing by the customer. Seems like the right thing to do.

It is called customer relations.

Customer Service is fixing the problem or complaint without conditions. Then maybe a follow up to the unaltered 'review' stating what was done.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Well, Rob, a lot depends on where you are located. If "Middle MN" is near the Twin cities, you have a lot of sources you can go to. But if you mean Alexandria, then I won't be much help...

Discount Steel (now called Coremark Metals) has been the main go-to for a long time in Mpls. They keep a ton of shorts and drops around. Used to be cheap for drops, until they started to realize the gold mine they were sitting on for smaller users. Then they built a pretty new showroom and jacked all their prices way up. But they will deal with small users, which is nice. If you just want a 10' stick cut in half, they will do it for a reasonable charge. They also can do cutting, bending, etc for a charge. A whole variety of things. The key is to NOT use their website for anything other than information as the web prices are even worse. You are better off calling ahead and having them pull an order for you that you pay for on site when you PU. Much better pricing that way.

There are also a few Metals Supermarkets scattered around the metro, and I have used them a few times also. Same deal - don't use the website to order as the prices are far worse. Just call direct to the branch you want. They will also deal nicely with small users and can cut, etc. I was quite satisfied with them, but they were less convenient for me.

But for me, the best place has become Steel Towne as I am just over the border, behind the Cheddar Curtain. They have a main facility near Eau Claire and a branch close by in River Falls that I use. The RF location has expanded a lot over the past several years. Their prices are WAAAAY better than the other 2 I listed and they are great at dealing with small users. You say I want 2' of this angle, they fire up the plasma and hack it off for you. If you want an exact cut, they can put it on the bandsaw too, but they charge for that. They can do some forming and welding too. If you call ahead, they can get basically anything you want in a couple days. I used them for the 304 SS for all my railings here as they were almost half the price I was quoted from Discount/Coremark. Yes, that much lower. And they are great at customer service. Here is a shot of the railing project from that load of steel. Now this was a sizeable order, so I did send around for quotes from a few shops, and these guys always win. Yes I love working with these guys!

Edit: And yes I have bought from menards/HD/etc for small stuff, which is fine for very small orders, if they have what you need, and especially if you need it quick.

View attachment 645517

Very nice stair railings, did you freehand all of the interior radius materials, and are they sq. bar stock or round rod.

KC