Big $$$ problem for some beginners - sourcing materials

In Southern California and in Arizona, Industrial Metal Supply (http://www.industrialmetalsupply.com) is a good source, with open stock of various 1' lengths of rectangular and round cold rolled steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. The also stock other metals. Their prices tend to be a little higher than Online Metals.
 
One secrete source I know about if you are in the Houston area. Get in touch with one of the several trepanning shops, shops that do deep hole drilling, in the Houston area. They will sell you what they call "core stock". Most of it is heat treated material and it is from the center of a large steel bar. It's not perfect steel from strength stand point but is fairly decent material. I've used it for many things around the shop including boring bars and putting down along the fence line to keep the dogs from digging out or in. It comes in a range of sizes from about 3/4" to just above 3", sometimes larger. You may have to pay for a saw charge if it is too long to transport. Most of the time they have pieces in the 4 to 10 foot lengths. They used to give the stuff away, and may still do, I don't know. I generally did repair work in trade for some of the stuff I used to pick up years back. But I also got it free, too. These shops also have ends left over from sawing off bar ends on larger stuff laying around, too.

In my line business, I work with several machine shops in the area in the line of work I do. I generally can pick up just about anything I want when I need it. The only exception is any round stock smaller than 1" to 1-1/2" in diameter. Structural shapes is another story. There is one shop I know of that will sell me short ends, the only drawback is, no discount for the stuff, but is still cheaper than picking up shapes at TSC!
 
Lucky that I have small tools. I don't need large metal pieces. I order online from exact_metals on ebay. Since I get stuff in one foot lengths, they ship in "if it fits, it ships" USPS and end up paying $5-$6 for an order for shipping. I have been happy with them. Just ordered a batch of hex rod that came in Friday.
 
You are pretty close to Omaha, so you should be able to pick up metal at the various distributors in town. State Steel, Millard Metal, Lincoln Structural, Columbus Steel, Drake-Williams, are a few of the ones I am aware of. There may be others, just check the YP and I am sure you can find something near enough. If you are doing this as a hobby, unless you are building large projects, you should be able to get enough to keep you busy in one or two trips. I get most of my stuff in my car and that keeps me busy for months of hobby time. Good hunting!
 
Almega said:
You are pretty close to Omaha, so you should be able to pick up metal at the various distributors in town. State Steel, Millard Metal, Lincoln Structural, Columbus Steel, Drake-Williams, are a few of the ones I am aware of. There may be others, just check the YP and I am sure you can find something near enough. If you are doing this as a hobby, unless you are building large projects, you should be able to get enough to keep you busy in one or two trips. I get most of my stuff in my car and that keeps me busy for months of hobby time. Good hunting!
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Interesting! Where would I look in the YP? I have looked in the past and looked again before I even started this thread and came up with a blank. I've categories for "Machine Shops" (handful) and "Machine tools" (3) but nothing that would be suppliers. The other place I looked is under "Metal xxxxxxx" and found "Metal Fabricators" (mostly welding and sheet metal) and "Metals" under which is the one scrap metal place in town. I know I'm going to feel like kicking myself in the behind when I see the answer but, what should I be looking under?

Thanks from the "village idiot" :biggrin:

-Ron
 
For aluminum, I get my materials from a local aluminum screen enclosure/railing and gate fabricator. They generally have in stock the sizes that I need and if it is a special piece that they don't, it can be ordered.
 
I have used Online Metal and Metal By the Foot extensively. I bought a JD Squared Bender and die with free shipping and saved enough to purchase the optional stand with part of the savings. Check for a local C&D landfill. You would be amazed at hwat you will find in there too. Our local site has a 45 Acre hole they are filling and everyday the batch is new and diferent. I have managed to talk some of the laborers into policing up the brass, Bronze, Alli, Stainless and large solid chunks. I wait till about 4 o'clock on Friday to stop by and bring a case of cold beer for their efforts. Even if I dont leave with any material I leave the beer for them to enjoy. I have only rarely left that site with nothing or very little. Usually it is a pick up truck bed filled to capacity. Helps to grease the foreman with a sixer of slightly more expensive brew or even better a few bottles of your private stock of homebrew too. Beer is the social lubricant, and loosens even the tightest purse strings if you let it soak llong enough.....

Bob
 
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