Cost of used steel

[okclumberjack]

I'am wanting to buy from the scrap yard a couple of plates 1/2 thick 1 plate 30'' x 6' and another 5' x 7' any ball park Idea what i will spend on these 2 plates understand might not(probally won;t) find exact size.????????? thanks

 

[sandman2234]

The 5 x 7 is going to be hard to find. That is almost a full sheet of 5x8 and is going to cost you a pretty good amount, even in scrap. Depending on the scrapyard, I would think at least a couple hundred dollars for that one sheet, and half that for the other, but it really depends on the scrapyard. Around here you would have a hard time finding one to sell it to you even if they had it sitting right in front of them.
David from jax

 

[rjmack]

Using scrap iron for projects can really end up burning you... timewise especially.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Current scrap steel price runs around $350 a ton FOB. So that 5'x7'x1/2 plate is worth $130 or so just thrown in the bin. If you need the strength of half inch plate don't you want the strength and reliability of a new plate not to mention the ease of getting quality welds from a rust free edge?

 

[300UGUY]

I've thought of a bunch of things I'd like to build, but the price of steel makes it too expensive for a hobby guy like me. I know a couple of neighbor's that used to fab up things, but it is much cheaper to buy the chinese stuff than to build anything.

 

[Luremaker]

I recently made a few brackets out of 1/2 plate. It was $14.66 per sq ft. I only needed around 3sq ft so it was not a big deal. I know it's less if I wanted the full 4x8 sheet. I would imagine it's cheaper in MI.

This was for new steel not used.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

IF you're going to use scrap, make sure you have a good grinder and grind lots of surface area where you'll be welding. If you've got time, and a grinder, you can get a good, serviceable product...might never be able to make it pretty though. It likely won't take paint well without a lot of work.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

35 to 50 cents a pound seems to be the going rate for scrap iron and steel right now. Standard Steel on Reno in OKC, or Wheeler Metals in Muskogee seem to have the best selection (if you can call it that).

 

[slowzuki]

I bought some steel 2 weeks ago, buying scrap was 30-40 cents / lb, new was about 60 cents/lb and up. They were paying 10 to 20 cents a lb.

 

[flusher]

I'am wanting to buy from the scrap yard a couple of plates 1/2 thick 1 plate 30'' x 6' and another 5' x 7' any ball park Idea what i will spend on these 2 plates understand might not(probally won;t) find exact size.????????? thanks

The only places I see scrap steel plate like you want is at auctions when some fabrication business goes belly up and has a bunch of steel stock to bid on. I've never seen 1/2" plate the size you're looking for in a genuine scrap yard around here. The junk is mostly rusted pipe, engine blocks, some beat up diamond plate, and miscellaneous random size pieces of steel and aluminum. A waste of time to shop for usable weldable steel (plate, angle, bar, tube) at these places IMHO.

 

[davo727]

Yep, In houston triple S steel is 35 cents a lb for outside surplus right now

I bought some steel 2 weeks ago, buying scrap was 30-40 cents / lb, new was about 60 cents/lb and up. They were paying 10 to 20 cents a lb.

 

[bearcreek paul]

I paid 25$ for a piece 1/2 in 1x5 ft at the scrap yard a couple of months ago.

 

[Rio_Grande]

I priced new 5x10x 3/8 the other day for 320.00. The project I am working on has to be new metal because it has to be placed in a machine, sheared and bent. The machine shop dosent want to mess up their knives and dies with the rust.