Cost of steel

[RedDirt]

Try out your local recycle center. Ours does all sorts of scrap including steel. $.35/# is the charge for any steel, big. small, new, old, shapes or flat plate. I haven't asked yet if they'd allow me to torch cut from pieces too big for my project but yours may. I'm lucky, the recycle center is 1/8 mile from the steel supply shop. I always check the recycled stuff first and many times get most of what I need.

 

[joes_427_vette]

Your lucky to have a recycle center that one can pick and choose from. All the used steel in this area gets a ride to the port of Green Bay where it is loaded and shipped over seas. For what the foreign countries are paying there is no margine to sell locally.
The salvage places used to be real picky, no gas tanks, interior cloth, rubber tires, oil in the drive train, ect....... NOW they want it all ! When they crunch it into a ball it gets sorted out later.

 

[DMF]

Anyone in the western/central Mass location that is interested in steel I know of a location that is selling it for $.25/pound, angles, channels, I-beams, etc.

 

[MrJimi]

About one year ago, J_J (member here) bought some steel and after the weight and dollars it came out to be around fifty cents per pound. This is for new and they have a $300 minimum and that was no problem.

 

[johnk]

I just called today about 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 X 1/4 inch angle. I got a price of $30.20 fo a 20 footer....

 

[RobJ]

cheaper than around here...36.94 is what I got at SSS.

 

[MrJimi]

I'm pretty sure that the quantity and source you get it from makes a big difference, like I mentioned, my source has a $300 minimum and I can live with that easy.
If you go to the ACE store, you will pay plenty for one stick.
and all I get is full lengths, 20/24 footers, I have a great pile of goodies Shh

 

[davo727]

cheaper than around here...36.94 is what I got at SSS.

1.5 X 1.5 angle 1/4 inch , 20 foot-

Should be 47 pounds so 78 cents a pound for new steel. Thats the same per pound SSS quoted me for 12 inch I beam

 

[RobJ]

1.5 X 1.5 angle 1/4 inch , 20 foot-

Should be 47 pounds so 78 cents a pound for new steel. Thats the same per pound SSS quoted me for 12 inch I beam

Should be right, usually how they price a commodity. I usually don't need anything that heavy or I look at the salvage yard first, last call was about $.50 a pound.

Here is the chart for those who want to keep it....

http://www.sss-steel.com/refpdf/2.pdf

 

[gemini5362]

In my area all the salvage stores have stopped letting you go into the yard to find steel. They are quoting insurance issues but what ever the reason now the only thing you can get is new steel.

 

[RobJ]

In my area all the salvage stores have stopped letting you go into the yard to find steel. They are quoting insurance issues but what ever the reason now the only thing you can get is new steel.

This gate is always open!!! Free donuts on Saturday!!

 

[gemini5362]

This gate is always open!!! Free donuts on Saturday!!

Rob what is that ?

 

[davo727]

Thats the surplus steel yard at SSS steel on Jensen and Kelley near 59 North in Houston, You cant see most of the inventory from that pic, most stuff is farther in the back.

 

[davo727]

Should be right, usually how they price a commodity. I usually don't need anything that heavy or I look at the salvage yard first, last call was about $.50 a pound.

Here is the chart for those who want to keep it....

http://www.sss-steel.com/refpdf/2.pdf

Hey RobJ: Where have you had good luck on salvage steel around Houston other than SSS?

I know one place I tried SUCKED!!! Big time was Texas Iron and Metal on Lockwood in Houston- Dont go there. They tried to charge me double new pricing on rusty surplus stuff from out in there yard.

 

[RobJ]

Thats the surplus steel yard at SSS steel on Jensen and Kelley near 59 North in Houston, You cant see most of the inventory from that pic, most stuff is farther in the back.

Correct!! the donuts are in the main building!! You never know what they have there. Plate stuff is off to the left behind the house, in the middle is the cutting area. There is a small rack in front of the house on the left that is a mixed bag of little stuff. Behind the cutting area are more racks with the 20' and 24' pieces of good stuff, usually a little rusted, still in bundles and many times are sold that way. Far right a mixed bag. Up at the front right sort of out of sight is the real wildcard stuff, stamped leftovers, etc.

the HUGE stuff is way in the back.

It's a mess when it's muddy and a choker when when dry and dusty and windy.

If you buy the new stuff, you pick it up INSIDE!! the main building.

 

[RobJ]

Hey RobJ: Where have you had good luck on salvage steel around Houston other than SSS?

I know one place I tried SUCKED!!! Big time was Texas Iron and Metal on Lockwood in Houston- Dont go there. They tried to charge me double new pricing on rusty surplus stuff from out in there yard.

Only other one I've been to is Rose steel. But I haven't been to their new location, only the old one off I-10 and Taylor. I hear it's ok. Not sure it's like SSS. At SSS I think you can get just about anything and any size. Rose is not as big, but had all the 16ga tubing, angles and stuff. On my list to get by there one day.

 

[gemini5362]

Ok I am really jealous we do not have anywhere like that in fort smith, If you want plate you buy an entire sheet. I did get them to quote a price on a small piece I needed but it was going to cost me an arm and a leg to get it so I did without. tubing is new stuff full price. The only concession is that you can get 10 foot sticks. If you need a small amount of something.
\

 

[ww_kayak]

I've also had really good luck at some local auctions. Like 3000 lbs of tube, angle iron, plate, sheet, flat bar, ... for 60 bucks!. I mean I had stop buying it because I had too much . The only people you need to outbid are scrappers, and it's not worth it to them to bid very high. The unfortunate thing is that it's usually somebody like many of the guys here that have been collecting and building for years, but has either gotten into trouble, has health problems, or ... well you get the idea

Nothing a wire wheel won't make quick work of...

 

[RobJ]

That's scrap alright! But usable none the less!

I'd say at SSS 90-95% of of the stuff is new or near new and is not near that rusted. The stuff we all want...doesn't last that long. If I swing by in the car, best to prepay and have them mark it for a Sat. pickup.

 

[ww_kayak]

I keep the good stuff inside, which meant kicking the lawn mower outside