Finding steel for projects

[padroo]

I worked in a steel mill for 40 years as a millwright and did a good bit of fabrication and welding. We had a rack full of angle, pipe, flat stock, round sheet metal and plate up to two inches in stock most of the time. If we didn't have it they ordered it so I was spoiled when it comes to material.

Now I have time to do things at home I don't have a clue where to get the steel I would need for projects.

Where do you get your steel?

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

I just call up one of the local steel supply houses and ask if they have "drops" in the dimensions that I need. The supply house that I buy from charges a cut fee to cut stock to length so I ask to buy the drops most of the time the drops are longer than I need but end up being cheaper in the end.

 

[matt_i]

Couple of options.

A local fab shop may be willing to sell "drops". They can probably also order full-sticks of material for you, if you are willing to wait until their next delivery. In other words a steelyard truck will come directly to my house but its usually a $50 or so fee. So I would need a big order to justify that expense. I have a friend who works at a steel fab and I just call him up, they add to their next order, and I pick it up. I have probably a ton of steel barstock "in inventory" at present as usually I'll order a full stick when I need a couple feet, I always use it later on.

There are also online places, some with retail stores, metal supermarkets is one I'm thinking of. But many places online that will UPS short pieces.

 

[Playwme]

Mate has a small welding shop so I just go and raid his scrap bin. If I need bigger stuff he'll give it to me off the racks. Payment is usually in beer.

If it's a big project I go to the steel supply shop and buy full 8m lengths.
I also have a good supply at the farm of used, recycled and leftover stuff that I've picked up at the right times for the right amount.

 

[matt_i]

Also, whatever you do, I would recommend against the big box hardware stores. They have a supply of light gage stuff but its marked up 5-10x from the steelyard prices from what I can tell.

 

[moto367]

https://www.metalsdepot.com/

http://www.onlinemetals.com/

I've used both of these before with good results. Prices aren't too bad.

 

[astroracer]

Just an FYI. I needed some 3' pieces of 1" sg x .065 wall aluminum tubing. 1 piece from Online Metals was $4.08. A 4' piece of the same size at Ace Hardware was $16...
I have a local metal supplier that I order through. They don't stock everything but can usually have it next day. Just look through your local phone book and call a couple of places. Can't hurt to play one against the other if you can that.
Mark

 

[shoot summ]

I googled "chesterton indiana steel suppliers" and came up with several hits.

The yellow pages(print or onlne) can also be a useful resource.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

You are not too far away so if you ever want a smorgasbord of any kind of steel,drops, trick plasma cuts ( letters/designs/scrolls cut in huge signs, ect) stop in at Harbor Steel in Lexington Ky. They are where I bought my steel for work for 15 years, a great place. Pius, they do ship to location... but would charge for miles and weight. JMO

 

[MushCreek]

In addition to the above, I've had good luck over the years checking scrap dealers. Some of them sell as well as buy, and they may have stainless steel, brass, copper, and aluminum in addition to steel.

 

[crewchief888]

I worked in a steel mill for 40 years as a millwright and did a good bit of fabrication and welding. We had a rack full of angle, pipe, flat stock, round sheet metal and plate up to two inches in stock most of the time. If we didn't have it they ordered it so I was spoiled when it comes to material.

Now I have time to do things at home I don't have a clue where to get the steel I would need for projects.

Where do you get your steel?

AAA supply on rt 41 (Indianapolis blvd) in schererville.

couple miles north of rt 30, across from lowes..

 

[maxpower_hd]

We have a scrap yard that separates and sells scrap steel. I haven't used them yet myself but a friend has. I usually use a local supplier that is reasonably priced for larger quantities. Some projects I only need a small piece of angle or something. Then I will go to the local hardware store but they do charge more. I also scrounge whatever I can from friends or work but that doesn't happen as often as I would like and selection *****. LOL

We have a metal dumpster at work I look in. Once in a while I might get a stick of square tubing or something but usually I need to buy it.

 

[coljar]

There are 2 places nearby, but I always check with both of them, because the price might be a lot less on angle one time and then higher than the other place the next time.

 

[nadogail]

I have found steel on Craig's List for the cost of hauling it away, the selection ***** but the price is OK.

Old bed frames can be repurposed into a lot of things.

 

[padroo]

Thanks for the ideas, I usually did small jobs at work but I am retired now.

 

[Falcon67]

Here its the metal recycling place. They stock several kinds of bar, flat, angle, box, sheet, etc. You just need a way to haul 24' joints. For aluminum (mostly .040 sheet) there is a tank mfg that will sell you some off the big roll for reasonable $$.

I hear metal is in a down phase - thinking about using steel for a back porch deck framework instead of wood. The PT wood is getting so crappy and expensive too. Steel support frame won't warp, split or twist LOL.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I give Cookie a call at Erskine Iron for full lengths and salvage pieces.

For special cut or custom formed material; I call the crew at Grand Forks Welding, and then send them an e-mail or fax with a sketch that includes all the dimensions. It is Sixty miles to Grand Forks, but the service is A1, so well worth my driving time..

They have me completely spoiled.

They would be more than willing to help You out,,,, But My Cousin Ole and I both figure the postage on e-mailing the steel would be cost prohibitive.. and the e-mail attachment would be too heavy for your computer..

 

[D45]

AAA supply on rt 41 (Indianapolis blvd) in schererville.

couple miles north of rt 30, across from lowes..

THIS

Good business and service

 

[scotty t]

I worked in a steel mill for 40 years as a millwright and did a good bit of fabrication and welding. We had a rack full of angle, pipe, flat stock, round sheet metal and plate up to two inches in stock most of the time. If we didn't have it they ordered it so I was spoiled when it comes to material.

Now I have time to do things at home I don't have a clue where to get the steel I would need for projects.

Where do you get your steel?

Buchanan iron works in westville, wegner steel in valpo, steel city steel on rt20 in burns harbor and gary.
which mill? i work for USS at Gary works

 

[crewchief888]

THIS

Good business and service

the couple times i needed steel, that i couldnt salvage from our scrap pile @ work, they were more than willing to help, and the prices didnt seem unreasonable for what i needed.

 

[wz junk]

I found a cheap source for small lengths of random size tubing. A friend of mine is in the tractor and utility vehicle business. The vehicles come to him on steel pallets and they are nonreturnable. He pays one of his guys to cut them up for scrap. The current price of scrap is less than what he has to pay to cut it up. He gave me a large trailer load of the steel pallets just to get rid of them. You might try someone in your local area to see if you can make the same deal.

John

 

[ishiboo]

I worked in a steel mill for 40 years as a millwright and did a good bit of fabrication and welding. We had a rack full of angle, pipe, flat stock, round sheet metal and plate up to two inches in stock most of the time. If we didn't have it they ordered it so I was spoiled when it comes to material.

Now I have time to do things at home I don't have a clue where to get the steel I would need for projects.

Where do you get your steel?

99% of my steel comes from the steel yard. New steel is pretty fairly priced right now. Occasionally I will buy a piece from Menards (HD/Lowes) "metal racks" if it's an emergency. No discount for drops - they are the same price per pound as the new stuff, you just buy only that much.

Their new steel is cheaper than the idiots on Craigslist are selling rusty drops for.

They also have two huge dumpsters of scrap/cutoffs that's real cheap, all from the bandsaw.

It's all clean (just mill scale) so I don't have to mess with rust, not knowing the actual material, etc.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's a place nearby that is tractor junk yard, they also sell parts, welding supplies and steel. They have a nice bldg with the steel inside on racks. It's 15 mile drive but the price and selection is worth it.

 

[Scott0023]

I have moved a few times in the last few years and I have found one of the Metal Supermarkets in all of the big cities. They have a drops section you can scrounge through as well as take larger orders.

http://metalsupermarkets.com/

 

[cpttuna]

I have used the local scrap yards for the last 30+ years. I look for stainless mostly. I usually go at least 4 times a years looking to build up my inventory at home. It can be amazing what people bring in for scrap. Remember most of the small fab places have already charged for their customers for material and what may be left over they usually just want to get rid of after they have done a job. All my vehicles have stainless exhaust as a result of picking up scrap ss tubing during one trip to the scrap yard.

 

[El Barto]

Also, whatever you do, I would recommend against the big box hardware stores. They have a supply of light gage stuff but its marked up 5-10x from the steelyard prices from what I can tell.

Very true! The first time I was tasked with a building project at my work, I sourced metal from a local steel supplier. I bought some nice thick gauge material, cut to size and I was shocked at how much cheaper it was compared to the thin stuff that was usually bought at Home Depot.