Scrounging metal & iron

Where do you guys go to get all the steel that you use to build vrious projects. I know I can buy it but I would like ideas on where one can go scrounge it up. I hate paying for things, but I won't steal.

Thanks

 

I get my metal to weld up projects from farm auction sales. Usually the chunk of metal is on a large pile that sell to the s****per dude. Then later on in the auction, you can talk to the s****per and offer him cash for just the piece that you want. This works for me all the time. Also, sometimes when I have to bid to win an item that I want and it includes more junk than I want to take home, I just give the rest to the s****per guy. It is a good way to make friends with the guy for future auction event outcomes.

 

i dig in the s**** bins at my friends sheet metal shop or use the left overs from fenders hoods and whatnot i have left over from other projects.

 

I used to work at a large fabrication shop, I'd raid the s**** dumpsters daily and get what I needed or thought I would need down the road.

I still hit up machine shops, and sheet metal shops. I usually drive my '56 up there and once I explain what I'm looking for they tell me to get what I need and usually only have to pay a few bucks.

Sheet metal shops have lots of s**** that is good for what we would need, but useless to them.

 

Old bed rails for 1 1/4" angle iron.

 

The local junk yard/recycling center has finally started to accept s**** steel and put it out--in big, ugly piles--for us to pick through. A lot of it has gone, too, so guys are digging through it and buying it. I bought a 3x4-foot piece of 3/16-inch plate and then a 3x5-foot piece of 1/2-inch for .20 cents a pound. (welding tables!). Got a piece of 1/4-inch 2x4 box tube for legs and a round disc of 1/4-inch for a shot bag station too. Just bought a piece of C-channel yesterday for .25 per pound. It weighed a 56 lbs, while the 1/2-inch plate weighed over 350lbs. Gonna be a BIG honkin' welding table!

So, check your local recycler.

-Brad

 

recycling center is great for metal around here, course I send stuff from work there too.

 

Dwayne, you of all people should know that bed-frames are made from heat-treated high strength, high carbon spring steel.....

and when welded the welds will be brittle like gl*** when even lightly stressed...and drill bits and saw blades will quickly dull when trying to work the stuff....

 

couple of tips....industrial s**** bins behind welding/machine shops....after hours or most shops will let you scrounge thru if you throw them a couple of bucks....s**** yards pay little or nothing to them as they have to drop and pick-up the bins...

also, I go to the big s**** yards on Sunday when they are closed....a lot of folk just drop stuff off outside as a dump site after hours....so it's a free-for -all....I've gotten hundreds and hundreds of pounds of good iron shopping that way....

 

I have the local s**** guy dropped by my house before he takes the load to s****..
Never know what your going to end up with..

 

I go to my town dump every Saturday. They allow you to take whatever you want for free.

 

dumpsters at work. there all seperated too. plate, plate 1/2 and up, sheet metal and stainless

 

We use tons of 3/16" cold rolled and all sorts of angle at the die shop i work at, simply walk to the s**** bins and dig. My brother use to at a large fab shop, like one where they fab buildings and overp***es. He was a great source of "s****' steel. I'd suggest talking to anyone you know at a fab or machine shop, they can peobably get stuff cheap, or free for you.

 

Ditto to Goober's idea. I buy my bedframes at local thrift stores. Goodwill is a little pricey at $14.00. The store I use has them for $3 to 6.00 and you get 15-25 feet of 1/8" angle iron. Queen and King frames are the best choice. I have seen flanges from 1.25" to 2" Currently have 3 in stock.


N B R<O</O

 

Consider transmission/driveline shops: they throw out a lot of dented or bent driveshafts. Usefull for straight sections of exhaust systems, if for no other reason than to get you running until you can afford the stainless set-up.
Discarded bicycle frames: lots of interesting smaller diameter thin wall stuff here. Also bike spokes make a variety of picks, hooks and special app. springs when wound around a screwdriver shank - that stuff is good steel.
Short lengths of thin-wall tubing is found in worn-out shock absorbers.

 

The local recycling center where I live will NOT sell you anything. When I had my shop there was a s**** metal yard across the street and I got a tremendous amount of STUFF from him. Everything from cool old motorcycles, to alum s**** from machine shops, steel of all varieties, and a lot of good running V8's.