useful local supply? (1 Viewer)

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sl33p3

sl33p3

still waking up...
Joined
Oct 13, 2009
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19
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Location
ABQ, NM
Hi all, i seem to recall the discussion of good and bad places to get metal stock in town at the last HDC meeting, but i forget any details... :eek: stuff like cheap angle iron or tube or box, steel, alum, etc..., when it's scrap, when it's new, or salvage and cheap, where has what? can you all chime in and remind me, maybe this could become that "where to get useful fab/part/cruiser stuff in town thread" too?

for consolidation, i'll start and vouch for IMSCO for shackles and or tow straps...

thanks everyone, hopefully this finds itself useful for someone more than me ;);p

:cheers:
-john
 
Choice steel x2

and Metal Super Markets is good if you need just a little piece of metal, they are more expensive than other places but you can get the exact amount of metal you need without buying a full section. Also they have a great selection of all types of metal stock
 
I've been hearing of a place on zuni called Koenig (spell) that's a mom/pop type place that has all sorts of weird scrap pieces. For hobbyists like ourselves it might be a place worth checking out.
 
I use Choice Steel mostly too. They're at 7100 2nd. St, but they're actually down the driveway/road that's just before Mesa Equipment's driveway. Mostly they have A500 HREW or CREW. They'll order DOM for you, but don't usually stock it. Their minimum is half a stick, 10'. They also will cut sheet stock from off cuts they have on the warehouse floor. Like all, they charge to cut.

Koenig's Metalmorphosis used to be more like a junkyard but they're cleaning up their act and are more organized than before. Also more expensive. They have a less complete stock than somebody like Choice, but they'll cut you anything. They also do plasma cutting (CNC maybe?) and some light fab. 6505 Zuni SE. They're open Tues. thru Sat.

My neighbor gets some stuff at Metal Supermarkets of ABQ., steel, alum, brass, whatever, and hunts stuff up for me from time to time. I have actually never been there. They're at 5620 San Francisco. They have a lot of odds 'n ends.

I have friends that get steel from Reliance at 1801 8th St.. Never been there either.

I get aluminum from Marco. They're right behind Choice steel on the same road. They'll cut you what you need if they have offcuts of full sheets, maybe cut full sheets to. They also stock more steel alloys other than A500 than Choice. Their address is also 7100 2nd, but like Choice they're not really on 2nd., but just off.

Hope this helps.
 
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thanks all, fantastic info (what i wish i could have remembered from the meeting...) :D
 
Koenig's had a computerized cutter the last time I was there that would cut to a CAD file as I recall - maybe even wmf, I'm not sure. If you want a special 2d piece give them a call to see.
 
Choice steel has a large CNC plasma machine as well. Not sure what it costs, but they said they could take simple G-code, or any of the readily available CAD formats to cut.

I use choice steel for just about everything, but that's just because I like driving through that super cool building.

Dan
 
we need someone in the club to buy some dimple dies.....
 
Mmm, dimple dies, tubing bender. Tool lust. These could be a club purchase? Or does that get too complicated? I would definitely contribute to those. Even offer to store them at my house.
 
I know my dad and I use Choice and we have never had a problem with them. Right now I am looking for a good supply of electrical supplies: Battery terminal connectors, welding wire, connectors, relays, etc...
 
Bad Mojo said:
I know my dad and I use Choice and we have never had a problem with them. Right now I am looking for a good supply of electrical supplies: Battery terminal connectors, welding wire, connectors, relays, etc...
Click to expand...

For Electronic stuff like relays and connectors, Electronic Parts Company on Rhode Island (just off menaul, east of Wyoming) is the bomb. You can buy a bag of 100 blade connectors for about $15, for the good nylon insulated guys. They also carry 12VDC SPST, SPDT relays (which is really all you need). All NTE stuff, very high quality. They've also got the good heat shrink, split loom (much better split loom than you can get and an autoparts store), etc....

For the battery cable (welding cable) you can get it at NAPA locally. Battery terminals also NAPA (the military style, I'm assuming is what you want). The solder-on connectors for the cable itself I order from McMaster-Carr. Very easy to make your own battery cables with those, and very reliable. I haven't heard of the soldered terminals failing, but I have heard of crimped cables coming undone (not to mention corroding).

Dan
 
That place sounds awesome I will have to check it out. Thanks
 
gr8wrk said:
Mmm, dimple dies, tubing bender. Tool lust. These could be a club purchase? Or does that get too complicated? I would definitely contribute to those. Even offer to store them at my house.
Click to expand...

Club purchase would be a nice way to go (we can all benifit if distributed evenly), but too many problems. Even though one would be willing to store them, how accessible to everyone else are they? Who contributed? How much did they contribrute? Who has the right to borrrow them first and for how long? I know there are a few folks on here that could make this happen, but I don't know everyone, so it would be hard how to decide that. We already have a club fund for the SWR meter, so let's see how that goes before we push group funds more. Just my .02 cents.
 
lurch said:
Well....I have a tubing bender in ABQ in a secret storage facility, I could tell you where it is but i might have to kill you:flipoff2:
Or we could wait tell I return in 1.5 months:hmm:
It's nothing sweet just a Harbor Freight special but it worked well for bending my cooler rack for the FJ40.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
Click to expand...

haha, i'll keep that in mind... for when you come back. i'm not in enough of a hurry to risk my life. :lol:
 
Rudical said:
Club purchase would be a nice way to go (we can all benifit if distributed evenly), but too many problems. Even though one would be willing to store them, how accessible to everyone else are they? Who contributed? How much did they contribrute? Who has the right to borrrow them first and for how long? I know there are a few folks on here that could make this happen, but I don't know everyone, so it would be hard how to decide that. We already have a club fund for the SWR meter, so let's see how that goes before we push group funds more. Just my .02 cents.
Click to expand...

agreed. good idea in theory, difficult in practice.
 
Bad Mojo said:
I know my dad and I use Choice and we have never had a problem with them. Right now I am looking for a good supply of electrical supplies: Battery terminal connectors, welding wire, connectors, relays, etc...
Click to expand...

For battery stuff I'm a fan of Morco Batteries on 1st street, have all styles of battery terminals, and will build new cables with whatever ends you need - what ever gauge welding wire you want. Plus you support the local Shop!
 
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