Dear Houston, Where can I buy small qty metal?

Scotts Elle · Jun 25, 2012

Metal Supermarkets franchise went under a while ago and online ordering is fine but try shipping a 6"x12" solid stock bar. That gets expensive fast. Only places I can find now are the big steel yards. For America's 4th largest city, its a cry'n shame that there isn't a similar shop that can provide small quantity metal.

skamp · Jun 25, 2012

Try this place:

http://www.steelsupplylp.com/index.php

I don't think they have a minimum. Also the one in NW Houston has an area with cutoff's/scrap that you can buy by the pound.

Steve

BigGMC · Jun 25, 2012

6"x12" piece will fit in the USPS's medium sized flat rate priority box. Their slogan is "If it fits, it ships". Dosent matter what it wieghs. I ship welded up steel blocks often using this method, if I remember correctly, it's like 10-11 dollars. They do have a larger size box, of course its a little more $$$.
Problem is getting seller to use this method.

edit - I see that thier medium boxes are 11x8.5x5.5 and the large is 12x12x5x5. AND now I see there is a disclaimer, a limit of 70 pounds.

sselander · Jun 25, 2012

I've had good luck with this place

http://www.onlinemetals.com

no minimum orders

mscribellito · Jun 25, 2012

Check these guys out:

http://www.metalsupermarkets.com

There is one a few miles from me and I've always had success finding what I need. They are reasonable too!

stonesfan68 · Jun 25, 2012

Try these guys:

http://www.sss-steel.com/

ME87 · Jun 25, 2012

McMasterr-Carr is great for small quantities. Typically you can get small quantities from large suppliers as well, but you will pay a cut charge.

Randy_che · Jun 25, 2012

Rose Steel Center
http://www.rosesteelcenter.net/contactus.php

Note they close at 2 on Saturdays. I've only been there once, but they weighed the piece and charged me 50 cents/lb.

kingofrestriction · Jun 25, 2012

ME87 said:
McMasterr-Carr is great for small quantities. Typically you can get small quantities from large suppliers as well, but you will pay a cut charge.

Grainger as well. Although prices aren't always the best.

bgott · Jun 25, 2012

http://www.sss-steel.com/

+1...

mcload · Jun 26, 2012

Kind of depends on the metal you are after. Plenty of steelplaces around, but brass and aluminum, not so many. Yes, you can go online and get stuff cut and sent to you, or Graingers has 3 foot and 6 foot sticks, but it still has to ship out of Chicago.

Only place I know for aluminum is Trident Co. on Baythorne. They have a $50 minimum, but I talked them down to $30....might be because I had just spent over 200 there a few days earlier. But I needed some 3/4" round aluminum round stock. But for $30, I got three 10-foot pieces....far more than I could ever hope to use....but you can't beat the cost. See how much metal you get on-line for $30!!

Patrick

dawgee · Jun 26, 2012

onlinemetals.com or speedymetals.com

gringowillie · Jun 26, 2012

Triple s steel at Jensen and Kelly they even have a scrap yard you can browse .

Duker · Jun 26, 2012

Another +1 for Triple S Steel. However, right off of 59 on the access road just north of SSS is another place that has a great assortment of odd pieces of steel. I can't remember their name but if you see a bunch of Yellow buildings that is them. The only issue I have had is getting someone to help you and they will test you to see if you know spot prices or not. If you don't' you will pay up. If you call them on it its amazing how fast the price drops.

Scotts Elle · Jun 26, 2012

Duker said:
Another +1 for Triple S Steel. However, right off of 59 on the access road just north of SSS is another place that has a great assortment of odd pieces of steel. I can't remember their name but if you see a bunch of Yellow buildings that is them. The only issue I have had is getting someone to help you and they will test you to see if you know spot prices or not. If you don't' you will pay up. If you call them on it its amazing how fast the price drops.

Triple S is awesome but they sell full length steel and full size sheets. While that is great when I need a lot of steel, They lack in the small quantity.

dawgee said:
onlinemetals.com or speedymetals.com

I am aware of these places. Shipping is restrictive... see original post.

ME87 said:
McMasterr-Carr is great for small quantities. Typically you can get small quantities from large suppliers as well, but you will pay a cut charge.

Again, Shipping is restrictive.

mscribellito said:
Check these guys out:

http://www.metalsupermarkets.com

There is one a few miles from me and I've always had success finding what I need. They are reasonable too!

Really!?!? Not in Houston... See original post.

sselander said:
I've had good luck with this place

http://www.onlinemetals.com

no minimum orders

Again, add shipping, now they are to expensive.

skamp said:
Try this place:

http://www.steelsupplylp.com/index.php

I don't think they have a minimum. Also the one in NW Houston has an area with cutoff's/scrap that you can buy by the pound.

Steve

Thanks Steve. These guys have almost everything. This place is no Metal Supermarkets but its darn close.

EOC_Jason · Jul 29, 2012

Lokey Metals & Earle M. Jorgensen Co are another two big companies in Houston.

Honestly though for small piece... Go to a scrap yard and you can probably find something and pay a lot less.

EOC_Jason · Jul 29, 2012

Oh, also machine shops are a good source, especially ones with those water jet cutters (or similar)... There are always sections of steel plate that don't get used and all that stuff just gets piled up until the scrap metal people pick it up. Plain old steel is about 10 cents per pound so anything you pay over that they are making money (and usually the waterjet guy can put the cash in his pocket...

)

DIC · Jul 30, 2012

Rose Steel........... :thumbup:

Torque1st · Jul 30, 2012

It helps if you specify your location in your post or profile clearly.

buzz4041 · Jul 30, 2012

Just about any metal dealer will have drops that they will sell you. Just go hit a few and ask at the counter and you will be surprised. I get all my project metal this way normally. They don't advertise but they will do it.

Milton Shaw · Jul 30, 2012

Tripple S here in Knoxville has an area of drops or left over pieces and are very nice to work with. They also will cut pieces in half to ease transport for little or nominal charge. They have about any size and thickness in stock in hot rolled or cold rolled and have a location in Houston so give them a try.

mayday0017 · Jul 30, 2012

Torque1st said:
It helps if you specify your location in your post or profile clearly.

Isn't the title of this thread "Dear Houston, blah blah blah"?

mayday0017 · Jul 30, 2012

skamp said:
Try this place:

http://www.steelsupplylp.com/index.php

I don't think they have a minimum. Also the one in NW Houston has an area with cutoff's/scrap that you can buy by the pound.

Steve

Ever tried this location? (edit: just noticed this is the NW location you speak of) I need to go check them out, do they have aluminum too?
Never noticed the place before & this location is maybe 1 mile from my house

AND they are open on Saturdays! I feel like I won the lotto! Hope their prices are in line...

davo727 · Aug 10, 2012

Did you try steelsupply LP ?

Dear Houston, Where can I buy small qty metal?

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