Big $$$ problem for some beginners - sourcing materials

[Jeff in Pa]

Here's a search engine we used at work ( I'm a machinist)
http://www.thomasnet.com/

Type in "steel supplier" and then localize the search to your area. This is a very good search engine for a lot of manufacturing suppliers,parts and services.


I can purchase some material thru work but for steel, Hoover Steel is local to me and have a good selection and good prices. However, material prices have really gone up the past four years so it's not as cheap as it used to be.

 

[McRuff]

I can take scraps from work but most of the time the sizes and such is all wrong. I searched google near you and found Millard metals in La Vista.
I get most of mine from Speedy Metals. I ordered some bar stock tuesday got it today. Not bad considering its 500 miles away.

 

[ScrapMetal]

Ron:

See you live in Nebraska, that's farm country! Here in West Sacramento, farm country, I find small quantities of material at my local farm implement fabricator and machine shop. He is always building something for the local farmers and keeps a pretty good stock of material. He sells his scraps at $1.00/ pound, if he takes the time to dig out the baby scale, or its his hefty had as a scale. Check and see if you have any shops that repair farm equipment in your area and hit them up.

M.L.Woy

Unfortunately I am a little too close to Omaha. Not a lot of AG repair work being done in the area. I get out west from time to time so it may be something to look in to.

Here's a search engine we used at work ( I'm a machinist)
http://www.thomasnet.com/

Type in "steel supplier" and then localize the search to your area. This is a very good search engine for a lot of manufacturing suppliers,parts and services.


I can purchase some material thru work but for steel, Hoover Steel is local to me and have a good selection and good prices. However, material prices have really gone up the past four years so it's not as cheap as it used to be.

I searched on there after you mentioned it. It brought up a couple possible sources I wasn't aware of. I'll have to check them out to see if they are legit as I've never heard of a "Metals Supermarket" being in Omaha, etc. It's definitely worth checking out though.

I can take scraps from work but most of the time the sizes and such is all wrong. I searched google near you and found Millard metals in La Vista.
I get most of mine from Speedy Metals. I ordered some bar stock tuesday got it today. Not bad considering its 500 miles away.

I'm not sure if they deal with the "public" or just contractors. I'll be looking in to them as well. They happen to be real close to the ONE shooting range in the county.

Some good ideas for me personally, so far. Haven't seen much to help beginners in general though.

Thanks guys,

-Ron

 

[Allan]

Ah yes. The problem of affordable supply. Talk to people who work in the fabricating and manufacturing industry. A friend of ours works in such a place. I can buy scrap from them, mostly hotrolled. Eg: he gave me a piece the other day 3/4" x 6" x12". Then I inquired about other scraps. 2 days later he had some 2 1/4 x 4ish x 12. $26 for 3 of them. Not a give away but not bad.

The other option is to cruise industrial back alleys or keep you eye on the news for businesses modifying or installing new equipment. Our local community newspaper put in new presses a few years back and had 4" round rollers out back. I took too long to inquire and it went to the scrap yard. Another time a printing company where a friend worked was closing down. He inquired about "scrap'. They had 4 presses 40' long with an unbelievable array of metal rollers shafts and plates. The side frames were 1 1/2" x 24" x 72" ground steel plate. The drive shafts were 3 or 4 inch steel. But the problem was we had to disassemble all the outside stuff to get at what we really wanted. Then the guy who gave us permission to help ourselves changed his mind and we were done with a few bits and pieces. But I still use some of the bit we got. I had visions of using the drive shafts and side plates to build a set of sheet rolls. Alas... One of the easiest sources is the local car repair shop. They have lots of struts from cars. They are different sizes but usuall the ones just under an inch are most common. Nicely ground and polished too. Just be careful since they may be under pressure still. I usually cut through the outside case with a bandsaw to relieve pressure. Most often theer is none by the time they get replaced.

So what I'm tring to say is keep your eyes and ears open. Talk to people you know and find out where they work. If you go to a business yourself, then explain that you are a hobbyist and just need small pieces of scrap. Take a magazine or book with the project you want to build and show it the Big Kahuna. Sometimes a guy in the big business respects and is willing to help out the hobbyist. If he's a jerk, move on. Almost forgot, check out the welding shops of the local high schools. Often they will be willing to sell bits and pieces as well and if he's a really good guy he may give you a freebie now and then. Take a box of donuts in for the class a day or two later as a sign of appreciation. Generally the smaller the establishment the easier it is to get past or avoid the "gate keepers".


One of the local bolt supply places has given me bolts for free when I only need one and not a box of fifty or a hundred. Just don't over do it and get greedy. Coffee cards or donuts work well there too. When you need 50 bolts do the right thing and buy them there. I advertised a drill press or sale once and the guy who called said he had been stockpiling scraps from work for decades. He had a pile 5 feet high but I lost his number. Arrghh! So an add in a local paper or on Kijiji or Craiglist may turn up something too. If there is local model engineers society join it and the stuff will come to you. If not, maybe you can put together a loose affiliation of metal heads. A lot of hobbyists also do it for a living and have great connections. Again, be a giver and not just a taker. I hope this gives some seed for thought.

Al

 

[Bill C.]

Ron, this isnt written in stone yet, but yesterday my kid told me Lowes is now stocking flats and rounds
And also Home Depot. But I 'm going to check it out.

They do carry some sizes. The Lowes near me has some bar, angle iron and flat stock. I suggest calling ahead to see if they have what you need.

 

[Splat]

Another vote for Mcmaster-Carr or welding shops for drops. The last place I'd go to is Grainger. They are so overpriced on most items. If I can't get an item I need anywhere else, or need it immediately, then I'll go to Grainger. An auto parts store just went belly up so I'm hoping the owner will let me look around for goodies before it goes to auction.

 

[Richard King]

Many times when I am on a service call at a med.sized shops they have a scrap container out back and I peek in and am amazed at what some shops throw away. So if there is some job shops or mfg. shops near you, walk in the front door and ask to see the owner or shop foreman and tell them your a hobbyist and would appreciate if you could look threw there scrap container. I used to visit a used machinery dealer every so often on Saturday and they always were anxious for you to come in and buy something, so they gve away a lot of scrap as long as you spent a few bucks now and then on some tooling or a old motor, or...what ever. All they can say is yes or no. Heck they might give you some stuff laying in the shop or even cut you a chunk. He might ask you if you want a part time job as many shops are dying for machine operators. )

PS: When I built a small shed out back I scrounged the area home construction containers on weekends and I got all kinds of building material they toss out. Have to be sure to wear boots and not tennis shoes because lots of those boards have nails in them...ouch.

Its amazing what people throw away.

 

[Bill Gruby]

While you are at these shops if they do at first say no, volunteer to clean up and get paid in cut-offs. Been there done that. ------ "Billy G"

 

[Zoltan]

I buy a lot of my material on eBay. The prices are as good as I've found and there's an excellent selection. Also, this let's me not have to talk to anyone.

 

[cbtrek]

If Lowes is stocking the usual flats and rounds as everyone else in the hardware business,if I recall correctly,it is not good steel for turning.

I wait till Enco has a free shipping deal,and order heavy bars of brass. A few weeks ago,they had a 20% off + free shipping. That would be a good time to order. I didn't need anything,plus my favorite grand daughter is getting into college,so the money drain starts big time now.

By the way: I have found that buying from Enco with free shipping is actually cheaper than trying to pick up odd scraps of metal online,or from Ebay.

Menards and Fleet Farm stock a good light selection. McMaster Carr is very fast and a GREAT web page but much higher cost.:banghead: I just found a weld shop who will sell and much lower cost then all the above locations.:happyhappy: