new shop/welder, need steel...?

[dogcatch'n]

moved and my new place, (new to me) it has an existing shop, so I got a new welder..

miller thunderbolt XL ac/dc.....now I can finally get to my projects....

it even came with an old wood stove that seems to be in good working order....I am in the middle of cleaning it up and putting everything in it's place....


hope to find a place to buy some steel cheap.

as a rule is it cheaper to get steel locally or thru the net...?

what has been your experience....?


thanks......

 

[fj40charles]

I'd say local is cheaper since shipping can get expensive. Call some metal scrap yards to see what they charge for "used" steel or "drops." Drops are pieces of steel already cut down and not standard length.

I've purchased steel that was "damaged" at discounted prices too. A 20' stick of with a section that is bent for example.

 

[-Spike-]

I nave no personal experience with Internet metal sales, but I can't believe it's cheaper to ship heavy and large items than to get them from a place that has them trucked in bulk. Prices range greatly around here, places that cater to DIY guys are usually way more expensive. Shop around.

 

[IBCRUSN]

Where 'bouts are you in Kansas?

As Charles mentioned, do a search for scrap metal recyclers in your area. IIRC the last scrap purchase I made was in the neighborhood of $.30/lb to give you some kind of baseline.

 

[Interceptor]

The scrap yards here are getting $.45-.55 per pound for rusted steel, who knows what grade, and after walking the muddy yard for an hour hopefully you found what you need. I stopped going there a while ago. It's just so much nicer to go to the steel shop. I can get any size or shape I need, any quantity, mill-fresh, rust and paint free. I pull in with the truck and they load it for me. If I call ahead they even cut/shear it to size and have it waiting for me. The price isn't that much higher, $.60-.80 per pound for steel, and they often have drops that you can make deals on. This is the place I go to, there should be someplace similar near you Hoover Steel

The only time I order online is when I need a small piece of DOM tube or something special that the local shop doesn't stock and won't order in small quantities. Online prices for small pieces are often up to 200% higher than local prices, plus shipping on top of that.
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One exception I've found is Yarde Metals Online Drop Zone. They have some great deals on drops and that's usually the first place I look when I need a big (expensive) chunk of aluminum to make a flywheel or something. Even with shipping, it can be much cheaper than buying a stock piece locally.
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Jon

 

[shelfboy1]

i go to a lot of farm auctions and ones that list piles of scrap.i buy all the steel i can and keep it in a seperate garage.a couple of years ago i got a whole 8x8x20rack filled with steel for 80 bucks just have to look.we also buy from a local steel supplier that likes cash and treats everyone well that buys their steel good luck

 

[landcruisnman]

I have a steel distribution business in SoCal, and it depends on what your looking for. We had an Ebay store for a while and where shipping 4ft, 6ft and 8ft lengths of tubing quite a bit. If you are building something heavy duty, and the material has a heavy wall thickness, the freight will kill you. If your building a cage, bumpers, sliders or somthing out of 1/8"wall or less, the freight isn't bad. If your buying steel for welding practice, get rusty material and grind down to clean up. Food for thought.
Good luck
Pat
Summit Steel