metal sources and prices?

[greenthumb]

being new to this I was wondering what are good prices to pay for steel and good places to get steel. I went to the local recycling (junk yard) and found some scrap that I picked out. the guy was not super happy to have me do this I don't think anyway I got some flat steel and various angle and even a I beam for the vision of a log splitter down the road. I ended up with about 700 pound of steel and it worked out to about .18 a pound. all of it is rusty but some time with the grinder and it cleans up the layer of rust that is very minimal. I know Lowes in town sells some steel. but It seems very expensive. the scrap yard seems like I will have to pick and choose what they have that day. there are several building supply stores that are steel suppliers that say they sell to the public. what should I expect to pay for 3 to 4 inch channel and 1-3 inch angle. If anyone can help that would be great. Also if anyone can recomened good suppliers in the mid michigan area that would of course be even better.

thanks in advance.

[greenthumb]

reply

I am in Howell.

[ChadRat]

First off, Do not buy at Lowes or Home Depot. They charge way too much. If the scrap yard guy seems put out because of your business then go some where else. Scrap yards have the best prices but don't always have what you want. The one I like to go to will even cut a piece off for me. Look in your local yellow pages for new steel. Call around and compare prices. The stuff I buy comes in 20 foot lengths. The place I go to will cut it in half for me so I can haul it in my truck. I need to build a rack so I can haul 20 foot sticks. There is a place down the street from my work. It is nice to call in my order and pick it up on the way home.

[Sberry]

The scrap guy ought to be cummin all over himself to get that for scrap steel. I bought a couple 5 inch channels new for 50 a piece. It might have cost a bit more but I am connected there. A 3 inch was 30 or so. It doesnt pay to remove rust at that rate. Even with new stuff I often sandblast and prime before fabricating depending on what I am building.

[R. Nelson]

Re: metal sources and prices?

Originally posted by greenthumb
being new to this I was wondering what are good prices to pay for steel and good places to get steel. I went to the local recycling (junk yard) and found some scrap that I picked out. the guy was not super happy to have me do this I don't think anyway I got some flat steel and various angle and even a I beam for the vision of a log splitter down the road. I ended up with about 700 pound of steel and it worked out to about .18 a pound. all of it is rusty but some time with the grinder and it cleans up the layer of rust that is very minimal. I know Lowes in town sells some steel. but It seems very expensive. the scrap yard seems like I will have to pick and choose what they have that day. there are several building supply stores that are steel suppliers that say they sell to the public. what should I expect to pay for 3 to 4 inch channel and 1-3 inch angle. If anyone can help that would be great. Also if anyone can recomened good suppliers in the mid michigan area that would of course be even better.

thanks in advance.

Try to find a shop that the majority of thier work is aluminum, bronze, etc. but does some steel. The reason I say this is the shop I work in does this, and my boss will let me have all the steel scrap we generate because it costs more for us to have it hauled off than we can get for scrap,...in the past 2 months, I have brought home about 1400 lbs. of drop plate, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8 and 2x2x 3/16 angle,...the gus in the shear and brake dep. just put it on the rack for me now.

[ChadRat]

Nelson,
Where in OK are you? I wouldn't mind stoping by to pick up some scrap steel.

[Scott V]

Aweaver,my sisters soon to be husband runs a big sheetmetal shop in town,and besides all the scrap ss,alum,misc stuff,they have one more thing there.A huge shear that really makes fit up for welding practice much easier,beside I don't need any more cutting practice.That part of it gets old in a hurry.

So find a steetmetal shop,and I bet there is some good deals there.

[Scott V]

Aweaver,it's always something!Theirs is a 12 foot model,but only .250 inch.The cnc plasma can burn .050 cleanly,and fast. It is a Hypertherm 100 setup,and is a pretty nice unit.It can cut thicker,but not as nice.

Aweaver,I sent you a e-mail did you get it?If not get a hold of me though the Chaski site,and use that email.I am trying to get you to make a button for your new tig.It will help your dc welding a whole lot.I have part # so you can build your own,or I will make you one.I need to know how many pin control cable you have?

[Scott V]

buttons for your sloper.

Try the Chaski site one more time,and just use the private message setup between members.I did fix my real email address there.I will see if I can leave you a message there with all sorts of info from the welding store today about buttons.I finally made one after three years,and I should of did that about first.Sometimes I am a little slow.

[Scott V]

Aaron,click on it,and send a test,it should work?

[R. Nelson]

chadrat scrapsteel

Originally posted by ChadRat
Nelson,
Where in OK are you? I wouldn't mind stoping by to pick up some scrap steel.

I am in Okla. City

[bluesman2a]

Found http://www.emjmetals.com through another board.

Just finished an order for 197' of 1.75" .120 wall DOM tubing for $449. That included delivery to my doorstep. Overall price works to $2.28/ft, with delivery/tax, but quoted price was $2.10... Shoot, I wouldn't drive it to my house for $0.18 per foot.

[d110pickup]

Herb,
Do they have a minimum order?
I've been buying from Besco over in Norcross and they don't balk at delivering as little as 80 feet. I bought 11/2 x .188 for $2.90 a foot delivered.
Later,
Mike

[ZACHV]

Originally posted by bluesman2a
Found http://www.emjmetals.com through another board.

Just finished an order for 197' of 1.75" .120 wall DOM tubing for $449. That included delivery to my doorstep. Overall price works to $2.28/ft, with delivery/tax, but quoted price was $2.10... Shoot, I wouldn't drive it to my house for $0.18 per foot.

Actually, that is probably for 213' of material. My EMJ rep always quotes me a per foot price with delivery based on 20' stocks then when I get the bill it is more because each stick is between 20-24'. Did the rep say how many sticks he was sending? BTW, that is a great price for DOM, I was quoted $2.89/ft. and $2.10/ft for HREW.

[bluesman2a]

Mike,

No minimum order as far as I could tell, but prices did get dramatically better with volume. I'll have to try Besco, I'm always looking for local stuff at reasonable prices (it's nice to just pop by and pick up some steel on demand).

Zach,
It was actually 198 feet total in 9 22' sticks. I finally got the bill and it was all tax ($29.49) for the difference. So I really DID get $2.10/ft.