Technical Good Source for small metal shapes

Unless you live next to a steel mill, junkyard or work in industry, finding the bit of plate or tube can be challenging. The big box hardware stores have a LIMITED selection. Mail order is available but shipping gets expensive. Yesterday I stopped by a Metal Supermarkets location. (Www.metalsupermarkets.com) I was able to get exactly what I needed from the drop bin for $5 ! Versus the $30 I was looking at from more conventional sources. Check them out if you are close to one.

 

We have a Metal By The Foot store in Kansas City that always has exactly what I'm looking for in their bits and pieces bin. Great folks to work with, and always helping me decide when I'm not sure whether hot-rolled, cold-rolled, welded seam or what.

 

cool! only a 200 mile drive.

 

Take the Chevy II....should take about an hour or so each way!

 

my cruising speed is about 70, it gets a bit "squirelly" if I go faster. Or it feels like it.

I think there's a place in Tucson, which is only an hour and a half away, that sells drops. Still a bit of a drive. Living near a small city ****s some times. But plus note, I can drive into and all the way across town in less than half an hour, and I live 8 miles away.

 

That is cool I have heard of them before there is one in Buffalo about 2 in half hours from me I will definitely stop the next time I'm in town thanks for the info! Hobo Jim

 

They are okay for small steel purchases ,I use them as a convenience more than anything.

But beware and know that you are paying way more than the material is actually worth.
They're priced like any other convenience store.

As an example, on Monday I wanted to buy 3- 24' lengths of .100 wall 1" square
tubing to build some dolly carts for my RPU body.

Metal Supermarket wanted $57 per length.
A local steel supplier was $30 per length.

I've found that some local welding shops can also be cheap sources for small metal piece needs.

 

We got Shapiro Metals in St. Louis that will cut just about anything you need. It's a bit of a drive to the shady part of town. There are lots of steel suppliers here but if you want anything less than a ton or more they look at you like you are dating their mother.
I got a quote from ALRO steel for 1 18 guage cold rolled sheet 4x10 and it was $210. If you bought 2 they were $70 each. They didn't have it in stock anyway.