You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Best source for aluminum
- Thread starter slloyd
- Start date
your location would help get an educated answer
cvairwerks
Well-known member
1x1 with diamond plate is not going to survive very well. Most diamond plate is going to be .125" or thicker, unless you go to a 5xxx series aluminum.
6061 in square is out there, but few sizes are available, and for what you can get is quite expensive.... 2x2x.125 runs about $11 a foot plush shipping. Select 6063 and lots more sizes and thicknesses are readily available and way less expensive.... half the prices or less.
6061 in square is out there, but few sizes are available, and for what you can get is quite expensive.... 2x2x.125 runs about $11 a foot plush shipping. Select 6063 and lots more sizes and thicknesses are readily available and way less expensive.... half the prices or less.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
IIRC, aluminum extrusion are actually sold "by the pound". Each profile has "pound per foot" associated with it. Easy to change pricing.6061 in square is out there, but few sizes are available, and for what you can get is quite expensive.... 2x2x.125 runs about $11 a foot plush shipping. Select 6063 and lots more sizes and thicknesses are readily available and way less expensive.... half the prices or less.
metalsupermarket is in slc. just go on the website and it shows whats available. there may be other metal stores in that area. buy local and avoid all shipping costs. 6063 does have a wider selection of sizes but its only slightly cheaper for equivalent size. certainly not 50% cheaper like was mentioned.
do you have any design ideas yet ? perhaps you can save a few bucks with a smaller thin wall tube then add some reinforcement bracing. without knowing what your doing its hard to say
do you have any design ideas yet ? perhaps you can save a few bucks with a smaller thin wall tube then add some reinforcement bracing. without knowing what your doing its hard to say
BD55
Well-known member
Triple S Steel is in SLC - I've picked up steel from them but not Al, but may be worth a call to them to see if they carry Al.
ETA: Lol just checked and metalsupermarket mentioned by corn chip above is less than a 1/4 mi away from Triple S Steel. Now I need to go check them out - thanks corn chip!
ETA: Lol just checked and metalsupermarket mentioned by corn chip above is less than a 1/4 mi away from Triple S Steel. Now I need to go check them out - thanks corn chip!
engineer2
Well-known member
In any case, buy it now. One of the largest aluminum smelters in the US will be shut down for 9-12 months. Not sure if it will impact the price of aluminum products.
nadogail
Well-known member
Look for "Drops" whenever you need material.
what does this mean?Look for "Drops" whenever you need material.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
"Drops" are what is left over when someone orders something less than a full stick of material and the supplier cuts off only what the customer orders. I shop my supplier's drops room before I order full sticks of material. I can often find what I need in several pieces there and not have to deal with 20' or 24' sticks.what does this mean?
rlitman
Well-known member
6061 doesn't weather that well. 5xxx is what you want for better corrosion resistance outdoors.1x1 with diamond plate is not going to survive very well. Most diamond plate is going to be .125" or thicker, unless you go to a 5xxx series aluminum.
6061 in square is out there, but few sizes are available, and for what you can get is quite expensive.... 2x2x.125 runs about $11 a foot plush shipping. Select 6063 and lots more sizes and thicknesses are readily available and way less expensive.... half the prices or less.
Also, 6061 T6 loses its temper VERY easily, which is why it isn't used by bicycle manufacturer as much any more. Frames made from 6061 would have to be welded, and then the entire frame would have to be heat treated. Bicycle manufacturers that still weld tube usually prefer to use 7005 now, because they can weld together heat treated tube and not have a frame come off the welding bench that's as soft as overcooked spaghetti. Not sure if the OP is planning on welding though.
What remains when some shop buys full sized pieces and cuts off what they need. The drops are often sold as scrap.Look for "Drops" whenever you need material.
so basically remnants..."Drops" are what is left over when someone orders something less than a full stick of material and the supplier cuts off only what the customer orders. I shop my supplier's drops room before I order full sticks of material. I can often find what I need in several pieces there and not have to deal with 20' or 24' sticks.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You have a storeike Metals Supermarket nearby?
Onlinemetals.com has worked for me a couple times too
Onlinemetals.com has worked for me a couple times too
Bondo
Well-known member
Ayuh,..... Except the bits are called Drops, through-out the industry,......so basically remnants...
rlitman
Well-known member
I guess. The only place I've heard the word "remnants" used for such things is in reference to carpeting.the local metal warehouse here calls them remnants. drops. remnants. its all the same ****
As a price reference, Alu at my local place is $4.99#, the remnants cuts are $2.69#. Anytime I'm in the first look is the cut-off room for those pieces. The batch I picked up was Kaiser and their stuff is very consistent.
I guess. The only place I've heard the word "remnants" used for such things is in reference to carpeting.
i dont know what to tell ya my freind. thats just what they call it here. if ya want their phone number maybe you can convince them how wrong they are.
dictionary definition of remnant ,and i quote , a small remaining qauntity of something.
if all those small pieces of various metals dont qaulify as remnants then what the hell does ?
VR6ix
Well-known member
Funny how quick a thread will take a turn away from the original question lol... to add to that, at my work:
- "remnants" are what we call the left over sheetmetal and plate after laser cutting when it's going to be saved instead of scrapped. AKA "rems". The junk that gets scrapped is called "skeletons" because their purpose is to provide support for the cut parts.
- "drops" are left-overs from saw-cutting tube and structural shapes
For what the OP is looking for, 6061 versus 6063 tube, round corners versus square corners, it's not going to matter much. For a truck bed skin 1/16" checker should be fine with a well-designed support structure. Welding 1/16" plate to 1/8" tubes should be no problem for a 200 amp machine.
If it was me I would hand-sketch in detail what I was looking for and then visit local fabrication shops and see which ones would give me the time of day. Cash and/or beer goes a long way. Ask them for their input on the design and get the skin laser-cut and formed as needed.
- "remnants" are what we call the left over sheetmetal and plate after laser cutting when it's going to be saved instead of scrapped. AKA "rems". The junk that gets scrapped is called "skeletons" because their purpose is to provide support for the cut parts.
- "drops" are left-overs from saw-cutting tube and structural shapes
For what the OP is looking for, 6061 versus 6063 tube, round corners versus square corners, it's not going to matter much. For a truck bed skin 1/16" checker should be fine with a well-designed support structure. Welding 1/16" plate to 1/8" tubes should be no problem for a 200 amp machine.
If it was me I would hand-sketch in detail what I was looking for and then visit local fabrication shops and see which ones would give me the time of day. Cash and/or beer goes a long way. Ask them for their input on the design and get the skin laser-cut and formed as needed.
sz0k30
Well-known member
Unless its a buddies shop - no fab shop works for beer.beer goes a long way.
Monza Harry
Well-known member
Showing up on a Friday night with a young crew it will, the shop doesn't profit but it will buy products and services! Not the right thing to do, but seen it done lots over the years, however around here the staff has aged so not quite as effective as it has been in the past. HarryUnless its a buddies shop - no fab shop works for beer.