Howdy all. I just moved back to Pittsburgh, actually, outside of Pittsburgh. Beaver County, to be exact. I was used to getting steel at Joseph Fazio's in Southern Jersey. Anyway, I can't find ANYWHERE to get sheet steel. Nowhere I can find sells to the public, and if they do, it's 6ga to 1/2" sheet. Does anyone have any suggestions? I found one place, but it's a little high. Or at least, higher than I'm used to. I'd apprecate any advice. Thank you all in advance. -Lucky
Maybe find a sheet metal fab shop...one of those dark, dirty little places and make friends with them. They're usually easier to deal with than distributors. Charlie
Who'd have ever thought it would be tough to find steel in the steel city....... There's a place here in Butler (not far from you) that sells to the public. Not sure if he has sheet, but I get angle iron and whatnot there every once in a while. If you want more info lemme know, and I'll dig up his #. If you're in Beaver, there are a couple members of our club (Drifters CC) around there. They might know as well. I'll call a few of 'em in a bit. Johnny
Ha ha Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Pretty funny. It's like saying "I just moved to Hawaii, do you know where I can find some pineapples?" Guess things are different now. I noticed a lot of the steel at some of the local steel yards comes from Japan now.
Ain't much of anything made in America anymore, including steel. Most of the mills in Pittsburgh are either shut down or barely operating.On the bright side though, I grew up next to an orange river that now is green and even has fish in it! If what you need is sheet metal, call Parker Metal Products in Tarentum Pa. it's a family owned small business, and they're nice people.
I'll bet there are a few unemployed steelworkers in Pittsburg that would love to supply you with some sheet steel, if they only had a place to do it
Thanks guys. CC, eh? I ran into a few of you Drifters out at the Jalopy Showdown, managed to take a good gander at the ****up truck. I know. It's severly ironic. I'm actually originally from the area, and just moved back after about 4 years. There still is a steel industry here. I spoke to a few people at steel mills. And there's enough mills left around to employ what steel workers are still young enough or healthy enough to work them. Most of the mills closed in the 1980's. After Armco was sold off, that was just about the last of the mills in Beaver County. There was quite a few car manufacturers here int he arly 1900's as well. American Bantam had a plant in Butler County. It was there that the Bantam Jeep was born. The factory is still there. I've actually discovered a few things that I never knew before. Within a mile of my house is an outboard motor service center that still has parts for vintage outboard motors, tucked away on a little side street. Oh, and I haven't spoken to the man yet, but I've been told that there's an old hot rodder that knows more than most of us ever will. He's got a repair garage with a few old restorations around, and apparently an entire field of cars. I know, I know, but I'm seeking him out tomorrow. Keep the suggestions coming guys. Thanks! - Lucky
There is still 3 mills in Pittsburgh. West Mifflin, Clariton and Bradock. There is still a GM (Fisher Body) plant in West Mifflin until thay make the final decision to close us. But I don't have to worry about that after the first.
I live pretty close to the old Bantam factory and I'm not exactly sure which building it was, but they just tore down alot of the area that was in. The entire Pullman plant is gone! I hope you didn't look too hard at that truck....if you look hard enough it would fall apart...heheh. What area is that guy you were talking about with the garage and all the cars??? There's a guy up by me with about a square mile of cars from 1916-1980 or so. last i heard he'll shoot at you before you can ask him to buy anything. It doesn't look like much is saveable anyhow! Johnny
For what it's worth, I asked exactly the same question two years ago: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29785 There are a couple more answers here. Good luck, Lucky, and let us know what you come up with! --Matt
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