steel prices - box store vs local

[lucky.expert]

I am about to start a small project where I will need some steel angle, and am curious how Lowes/Home Depot steel prices compare to local steel places. I just need a few sticks of 1" angle. Are the big box store prices comparable or are they inflated? It'd be much easier for me to stop by Lowes/HD than drive accross town for a small order.

Thought i'd save myself from calling around if I can get a quick answer here.

 

[Steelhorse27]

Find an actual steel place.......the box stores will stick it to you.

 

[toofart]

Find an actual steel place.......the box stores will stick it to you.

Agreed

 

[paranoid56]

HD seems to be about 4x the price of a normal steel shop. however, HD is open sundays lol. so i have been bent over a few times when i have ran out of material.

 

[GN4WHLN]

Find an actual steel place.......the box stores will stick it to you.

Yup. I can buy 4 times as much for the same amount. Also, there are far more choices at the steel yard. abrasive consumables are also cheaper for me at my supplier. If you get tho know the people there they will do a little better on pricing for you than the yahoo just off the street.

 

[davewo]

The tiny peices of sheet metal at Lowe's caught my eye last weekend. Not literally, but I did take notice the cost was about x6 - x10 of the local supplier I go to. The other good thing about a supplier is that they may have new remnants selling for less by weight.

 

[zkling]

Call around to local metal suppliers. Not all want to deal with the little guy. Home Depot, Lowes and the like prey on the convenience factor and lack of knowledge/ambition/hours over true metal suppliers.

 

[catch2otwo]

even if you find a steel supplier, shop around with the other suppliers in the neighborhood. I just bought 80ft of 2x2 steel tubing and the price difference between two shops was around 10 bucks per 20ft stick.

 

[lucky.expert]

Good info, thanks for all the input. Looks like I'll be calling around!

I'm going to be converting a lawn mower into a little forklift so I'll eventually be needing some larger stuff that HD doesn't sell anyways. Looks like i'll be putting together a list of everything I need and driving across town. Good info on the scraps too, I'll be sure and ask them about that.

 

[toofart]

Looks like i'll be putting together a list of everything I need and driving across town. Good info on the scraps too, I'll be sure and ask them about that.

That's what I do -- try to plan as many projects I'll get done within a reasonable timeframe and make a single trip. Although, these days my orders have been important enough ($400+) for their free delivery service.

 

[kazlx]

Not even a contest. I gag every time I happen to see raw metals at big box stores. Unless it was 8pm and I literally had no other choice, I will always go to a metal supplier. IMS, who is local to me, does free next day delivery on anything over $100.

 

[Engine]

To me, big box stores are the "convenience stores" of metal suppliers. High price & little selection.

Also consider metal recyclers (AKA scrapyards). Sometimes they have a good supply of nearly new angle stock and other stuff at half price. I have bought a lot of stuff from my local yard when I'm not too picky about what I get. Fab or welding shops may quote you a good price on some steel too.

 

[jdl25]

So now that you have the correct answer please tell us more about the lawnmower to forklift transformation. That is a new one for me! Im sure it will be cool,

 

[bwringer]

So now that you have the correct answer please tell us more about the lawnmower to forklift transformation. That is a new one for me! Im sure it will be cool,

Exactly what I was thinking. You can't just casually mention you're making a forklift out of a lawnmower and then wander away with no explanation...

 

[BD1]

Local supplier is reasonable compared to box store. Check craigs too, there maybe steel listed under materials.

 

[creativecars]

I am lucky enough to have a CHenry steel operation within driving distance. They have prime & secondary steel in stock. I usually spend a couple hours wandering around checking out their cool stuff and thinking about my next 10 projects. At 37 cents per pound it is easy to get carried away. I went looking for a 4' piece of 2" square tubing for a project, and left with a 130lbs of welding table supplies...

 

[427FAB]

The box stores hit you over the head but call around before you tackle a project.
I just called yesterday to get some prices on some 2x2 .120 square tubing 20' length.
Three places ,three different prices . 87.00 ,50.00 and 47.00 . Cold rolled 1020, thats a heck of a price swing .

 

[404]

Remnants of steel are also called "drops".

 

[gte718p]

To me, big box stores are the "convenience stores" of metal suppliers. High price & little selection.

Also consider metal recyclers (AKA scrapyards). Sometimes they have a good supply of nearly new angle stock and other stuff at half price. I have bought a lot of stuff from my local yard when I'm not too picky about what I get. Fab or welding shops may quote you a good price on some steel too.

I buy all of my plate stock at the local scrap yard. They have cone boxes full of it. I'm not sure who scraps 20+ full sheets of perfect 1/4 plate but I was happy to pick up a couple at .35 a lb with $4 for a ton of cuts.

They don't however gave a a good stock of tube. I buy that at a local metal supplier. Only 2 of the 6 shops locally will deal with small orders and none will deal in less the a full sheet or stick.

 

[kwb]

Depending on shape and overall size of order and I am going to give a high number because so many on here work in the smaller/thinner sized material..... don't ever pay over $1/lb for steel.

If you are buying heavier stuff like C6x25 or 3x3x.25 Angle that number to not pay more than is about $.50/lb.

I do a small amount of fab work on the side - last year I probably only bought 4Tons all year and I think the most I paid for anything was $.85 for some smaller square tube.

 

[reader2580]

One of the metal suppliers here locally converted one of their buildings into a retail store. They sell smaller pieces of metal for retail customers. It is mostly drop and the prices for most of it is by the pound at a reasonable price. It is way more convenient than looking for drop out in their yard.

They still operate their yard for wholesale customers and retail customers who need larger quantities or longer lengths.

 

[Steelhorse27]

Exactly what I was thinking. You can't just casually mention you're making a forklift out of a lawnmower and then wander away with no explanation...

X3

 

[lucky.expert]

So now that you have the correct answer please tell us more about the lawnmower to forklift transformation. That is a new one for me! Im sure it will be cool,

haha, well I started a thread the other day for anybody interested. (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278292). I haven't got a whole lot done on the project yet but I'll try to update it along the way.

By the way, I found a local supplier and I couldn't believe how much cheaper they were. Lowes = $14 for 6', local supplier = $5 for 8'. BIG difference!!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

check a welding shop to see what they have in the bargain bin.

 

[PAToyota]

Just go look at the copper pipe at Lowes or Home Depot. Typically, you’ll find that the cost of a 5’ piece of pipe is about 75% to 85% of the 10’ piece of the same thing. You’ll likely find that the little 3’ pieces of steel are as expensive as a full 20’ piece from the steel yard.

However, as you say, it depends on how much you’re buying. Stopping at the big box store during the weekend for a few feet of material may be less expensive in the long run than making a special trip during the week when the steel yard is open.

Personally, when I get steel, my order is usually large enough that the steel yard delivers it for free.

 

[e30bradley]

my local steel supplier has a minimum purchase policy.. $375 minimum.

 

[PAToyota]

No minimum at mine if you pick it up. I’d have to check with what level gets free delivery, but that isn’t that high either. They regularly deliver to a couple other places locally, so they just throw it all on the same truck.

 

[metalhead212121]

my local steel supplier has a minimum purchase policy.. $375 minimum.

what place is this?

 

[the spyder]

You have read shop floor talk, right? Cutter on there made one years ago. Neat little thing. Not something I could use, but still a great project.

 

[ishiboo]

haha, well I started a thread the other day for anybody interested. (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278292). I haven't got a whole lot done on the project yet but I'll try to update it along the way.

By the way, I found a local supplier and I couldn't believe how much cheaper they were. Lowes = $14 for 6', local supplier = $5 for 8'. BIG difference!!

You're lucky... our steel supplier is probably 1/4 the price of Lowes, but not on cuts. On most things if you want less than the stick (usually 20' or 24') you pay for either half the stick, or the whole stick... plus the cut. And they won't let me look through the drops!

I don't mind buying 20' or 24' at a time, the problem is simply I have a 10' trailer to get it home. So I have to cut it in half and throw it in the dump trailer.

 

[Malczewski]

I don't go to stores that don't have an owner I can not speak with.
I bought a 3 x 3 x 1/4" angle, 20 feet long yesterday for $43.
Good or bad ??? I sat in the office and had a cold one with the owner while the guys cut it into 4 pieces and loaded it on my roof rack.
Understand ?
His daughter will graduate this spring so he invited me and wifey over for the party-BBQ.
Understand ?
His cousin, Henry, owns the meat market 3 blocks away.
Understand ?

 

[e30bradley]

what place is this?

Gerber
http://www.gerbermetal.com/

Where do you go?

 

[RonnieJ-57]

see if you have a "Metal Supermarket franchise in your area.

 

[metalhead212121]

Gerber
http://www.gerbermetal.com/

Where do you go?

http://www.shopjfi.com/company-info

You're still in Bridgewater right? They have a place that's about an hour from you. They aren't exactly close to me but the ONE time I dealt with them it was like a breath of fresh air! Prices IMO were reasonable and the staff was pretty laid back/cool to deal with. If I buy steel again I'll make the trip to go to them.

I've dealt with Steelfab MANY TIMES. http://www.steelfab.org/ Every time I dealt with these guys they wanted to give me nothing but a hard time. I only dealt with them because I couldn't find any other place to get steel. After I found Fazio's I decided to NEVER deal with Steelfab again.

 

[tiggi]

Try putting a wanted add on CL. There are lots of shops with surplus or leftover material. I got a guy in my area that buys more then he needs just to get a better pricing from the supplier. I can buy anything I want from him for $0.50/lb.
Also if you shoot an email to your local steel supplier they will send you a quote on the stuff you need.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've paid the high price more than one when I needed something but hopefully I'm done with that.

I picked up 13' of 1/2"wide, 1/8" wall and 20' of 3/4" wide, 1/8" wall for $11.75 cash. TSC wanted about 8-9 bucks for 4' of the 3/4" stock.

Now that I have a place for my steel, I'll buy an entire stick when I go. The drive is a few extra miles, maybe 10, but worth it.

 

[AndeiH]

stay away from home depot/Lowe's for metal, you'll spend way more than at a local steel supply.

now with my cordless bandsaw I can buy 20 foot lengths (square tube) and cut them to size before I throw them in my car

 

[PAToyota]

now with my cordless bandsaw I can buy 20 foot lengths (square tube) and cut them to size before I throw them in my car

My place will at least cut things in half for no charge if they aren’t busy, but that’s a great idea!

 

[NUTTSGT]

stay away from home depot/Lowe's for metal, you'll spend way more than at a local steel supply.

now with my cordless bandsaw I can buy 20 foot lengths (square tube) and cut them to size before I throw them in my car

I took my Dewalt 18V cut off tool, aka angle grinder, with me to cut the stuff in half if their guy was too busy.

 

[e30bradley]

I bought a peice of 1/2" plate a few weeks ago from a local fab shop after being turned donw my gerber.. I feel like I paid way to much. It was $125 for 1/2" thick x 92" long by 7" wide.