Steel Sources

[Todd Baumann]

I am starting on a restoration of a 1964 Ford Falcon.
Lots of metal to be replaced and fabbed since some things are not available.
I have always tinkered with cars and even built a bunch of kit cars but never a full resto of something.
Never had to replace anything steel wise more than something I could source from the local DIY places.
But I am going to need several large sticks of square tubing, angle, and some sheet also.

I have Alro Steel here, but what other sources are out there that you guys have used in the past?

Thanks in advance,
Todd

 

[Jim greengo]

Check local welding shops .

 

[mcbane]

The most expensive place to buy is an online metals place. Second most expensive place to buy is a welding shop where they will cut a piece to length for you but will charge 4x-5x the price per lb that the steel yard will charge for a full 20 ft stick.

If you have a large enough local metals recycler that sells as well as buys scrap, they probably take in a lot of cutoffs from fabricators and if those cutoffs are in sizes that work for you it will be the cheapest option. Scrap price on steel these days is a penny or two per lb, so even with a serious markup they will likely have good prices.

 

[LeonardY]

In Southern California, I use Industrial Metals. They have services like laser cutting and will size material for you.
They have pre-cut pieces. It's a bit more expensive but worth it.

Industrial Metal Supply | Southwest's Largest Metal Supplier

www.industrialmetalsupply.com

I would look for a similar place in your local area.

Online is good for small stuff but generally more expensive.

 

[cvairwerks]

Funny thing about onlinemetals... on occasion they are cheaper by far when you add in shipping, if needed. I need some .032" 4130 sheet. Normally I would order from Aircraft Spruce or Wicks, but shipping is so high, that I can get twice the material from online, ship it and still come out less money. Now all I need to do is call in my order tomorrow and decide if I want to pick it up or have it shipped.... Cost is within a buck or so of being the same.

 

[Innovate1]

The most expensive place to buy is an online metals place. Second most expensive place to buy is a welding shop where they will cut a piece to length for you but will charge 4x-5x the price per lb that the steel yard will charge for a full 20 ft stick.

If you have a large enough local metals recycler that sells as well as buys scrap, they probably take in a lot of cutoffs from fabricators and if those cutoffs are in sizes that work for you it will be the cheapest option. Scrap price on steel these days is a penny or two per lb, so even with a serious markup they will likely have good prices.

Interesting. Any tips on locating them other than the obvious general google search?

 

[mcbane]

If there is a big steel fabricator nearby, ask them where they sell their leftovers. Otherwise, search for metals recyclers or scrap metal haulers.

 

[CADPoint]

U need to talk to some other shops, besides you might need some of the others guys,
That have metal benders or that one aspect of the rebuild your need help with.

Best story I have of being in Parts Supply house, salesperson tells client,
He's the Guy. I waited and asked, well Who's the Guy for my situation?

The guy even knew the cars problem when I introduced it.
Couldn't have been happier, and I was on the road.

Short of that use the internet and variable item subjects...

 

[nadogail]

Let your personal network of people know you are looking for steel and you will appreciate any they can help you find.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I use the biggest steel house I can find. Around here it's Kivort Steel and Albany Steel. Thousands of tons of product in stock. Don't know what you've got in your area, but you get the gist.

 

[milkovich]

We have a local distributor (Industrial Tube and Steel) and they treat you like trash if you're a "walk in" cash customer. If you have a local welder/fabricator/machine shop who gets regular orders, they might let you coattail their orders to get their price and shipping plus a mark up which will be better than going in with no account number and a credit card for payment. Be aware that they typically ship long stock (20 foot or more I think) and charge for each cut. So if you can get your "cut list" dialed in with ASTM/alloy numbers and have a trailer to haul 20 foot sticks, you'll save a little more. The fab shop might even let you do some cutting in the parking lot if you need to chop them down to fit in a pick up. If you find a distributor that doesn't treat hobbyists like garbage, buy those guys a box of christmas cookies or something. They're the exception, not the rule in my limited experience.

 

[gmcgeo]

Local is what you need to find. Grab there scrap pieces for scrap prices

 

[jwilson645]

Depends on what the metal is for too. Are you replacing floors, quarters, other body parts, subframe, etc? If so, I would suggest buying the premade replacement panels from places like Classic Industries, Auto Metal Direct or others, unless you are a pro and have all the tools necessary to shape the flat sheet into the body panels.

 

[ycgoat]

Our local steel Co moved and switched to commercial accounts only. After asking around a bit I found a small shop that would order me steel, but they did not stock it. Now we have a Metal Super Market store. They are a bit expensive but will cut to length and sell partial pieces.

 

[73project]

What are Lucy's Steel Supply prices like? It looks like they have a decent selection.

 

[kwb]

I have a supplier I use when I am ordering more than about 1000# of material. When I need smaller orders I have another shop I use, the location is also better but I end up paying about 50% more per pound. The good news is that sort of project usually has better margins. For my own stuff I just tack it onto an order for one of my side hustle jobs. I also always buy extras of smaller stuff (2" and smaller) to have around for the hairbrained ideas that come up.

Cut fees add up but if you have a dedicated project it can save a ton of time. If it is bigger/heavier stuff odds are they will also make a better cut than you are setup to make. I just did a project with some 14" I beam - they can put that on the saw and get a nice square cut. I have to use plasma, roll the beam a couple times, and clean up. $17/cut is well worth it to save that much time.