rockwithjason
Well-known member
where is a good place to look for cheap steel for projects? stuff like c channel and angle. i have cruzed the scrap bin at my supplier but the price isn't really that good. where else to look?
cheap steel sources
- Thread starter rockwithjason
- Start date
GarageEnvy
Well-known member
I think most people will tell you to source it locally as shipping is the deal breaker. I've heard of some people who have used onlinemetals.com and metalbytheinch.com with success. I have no experience with either company. I'm lucky to have several local metal yards and metal scrap yards that sort and categorize stuff.
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
Local suppliers or scrap yards. I pay roughly 60% of online prices, before shipping, by going to my local metal yard. This is for new metal, all scrap comes in at $0.50/lb which works out pretty well for most of it. I did like the $0.25/lb that I paid a couple years back a bit better tho hah.
Just to quote a price I know off of the top of my head due to using it recently:
$0.81/ft for 1/8 by 1 by 1 angle iron, 20ft. OnlineMetals wants $1.2225/ft and max 8ft bar, or for a 20ft, $1.92/ft or $38.40!! Nuts. I can't imagine shipping on that either, and its -way- easier to use 20ft's than short sticks.
Just to quote a price I know off of the top of my head due to using it recently:
$0.81/ft for 1/8 by 1 by 1 angle iron, 20ft. OnlineMetals wants $1.2225/ft and max 8ft bar, or for a 20ft, $1.92/ft or $38.40!! Nuts. I can't imagine shipping on that either, and its -way- easier to use 20ft's than short sticks.
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5lima30
Well-known member
I've scored some great deals at our local Habitat Restore! Also check with welding shops see it you can buy from their "drop bin" usually pay just slightly more than scrap weight prices.
bggrnchvy
Well-known member
Rem yard is $.65/lb, which depending on the profile can be a good savings.
Of course the peices you get have a wonderful storage method (in the elements) meaning you get to spend a bit of time cleaning the oxidation.
Of course the peices you get have a wonderful storage method (in the elements) meaning you get to spend a bit of time cleaning the oxidation.
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
One of my buddies suggested that to me. Cost savings v buying new aren't that great IMO, due to the time expense and frankly expensive steel. $10 for 20' of 1/16" angle is more than I pay at the supplier. YMMV, I don't have time for yard sales but I do have an hour now and then to go pick up steel from the supplier. They're even open 6hr on Sat!
A**holes Garage
Banned
Just get what you need at the steel yard. In stock, a variety of sizes, etc.
How much time do you spend at junkyards, scrappers and yard sales to get steel that is bent, the wrong size or worthless?
How much time do you spend at junkyards, scrappers and yard sales to get steel that is bent, the wrong size or worthless?
Steels not cheap. Scrapyard by my work keeps a good supply set aside ready to sell in the bigger sizes. I scrap a good bit and save a lot of usable stuff. I dig a lot of bed frames out of the trash, they're made of mystery metal so I don't use them for anything important. Most tubing, angle etc. I just buy new.
With gas at $4 a gallon bargain hunting needs to be a while you're at it kind of thing.
With gas at $4 a gallon bargain hunting needs to be a while you're at it kind of thing.
machine_punk
Well-known member
Look for scrap yards in outlying (smaller) towns...here in the bay area, scrap prices are near new prices ($3.50/pound for aluminun). Just 1.5 hours away at another scrap yard, I can get scrap aluminum for $1.50/pound. I found that scrap yard on a CL ad.
M_P
M_P
Back from the dead thread warning.. . . now banned spammer
sweetk30
Well-known member
last year i found a guy on craigslist of all places . he was local and had purchased a old factory closed up and it had TON'S of drops and cut offs in the place . i got prob close to 5k bucks worth of new steel slight rust for under 1k bucks all done out the door . he was happy and i was happy .
keep looking and you will find a deal .
and i was getting 3"x5" angle 3/8" thick 8-9ft lengths / 8" C-channel 8ft / 10" C-channel 9ft lengths / 3" x 3" square tube 1/4" wall / and lots of other HEAVY stuff in this mega package deal .
keep looking and you will find a deal .
and i was getting 3"x5" angle 3/8" thick 8-9ft lengths / 8" C-channel 8ft / 10" C-channel 9ft lengths / 3" x 3" square tube 1/4" wall / and lots of other HEAVY stuff in this mega package deal .
To get that precise ut will be ground. Like hydraulic cylinder rod.
True.
I'll dig in the rem pile if it's just a small piece zi need.
The welding shop here sells to length which is great. If I need 4ft of 2" square tube, get sells that. Don't have to buy 20ft of it
Not really; it just needs to be made to 40 mm metric measurement instead of American SAE measurement. The OEM rods are far from chrome plated/precise rods.
It's for a simple purpose; no need for it to be precise:
It's the rod that goes into the pad hole for an Atlas 2 post lift.
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sweetk30
Well-known member
I had a machinist friend whip my up some extension units for my lift out of 6061 aluminum 3" round stock . Been fine for almost 2 years now no problems .
493mike
Well-known member
I could always find new, primed steel on commercial construction jobs, back when I worked. The masons seemed to leave the most. Usually lintels and rebar.
Mike
Mike
Unfortunately, these aren't for extensions but for lift attachments to raise my ZTR and other things. Hence I have to be able to weld to them. I don't have any way to weld AL.
csp
Well-known member
Farm/rural auctions.
Usually it's scrap, but there are many with racks of full sticks of unused dimensional steel.
Usually it's scrap, but there are many with racks of full sticks of unused dimensional steel.
That stuff is an ultra low grade material compared to angle iron.
I've had some weld horribly from whatever is in it. It's like rebar in angle form.
csp
Well-known member
Agreed! I used some from a frame we weren't using any longer and after one weld it went in the scrap bin. Even cutting it was weird.