Does anyone buy metal on-line?

crazyal · Nov 13, 2018

Most steel I buy is stock lengths so it doesn't make sense to buy on-line but every so often I need a small piece. Usually something that costs less than $10. It's about a half hour out of my way to get to the local steel place so I look on-line. Each time I just laugh at the shipping quote. For example I need a 12" piece of 1/2" cold rolled square steel. The price of the steel is about $3 but the shipping charges are between $16 to $20. That's about the price of a stock length at the local steel yard. Each time I think "this can't cost too much to ship" I find myself saying, no thanks. I could understand if you really need it and live hours away. Do any of you buy from these places?

yomax4 · Nov 13, 2018

I've found that befriending a local fab shop is the best way to get material. I just let them know what I need and they add it to thier weekly order. They get much better prices than a guy off the street walking into a steel center. Plus they sell me their drops for scrap price and I get to dig in the scrap dumpster. I don't mind dumpster diving for steel..I just got 4 sticks of 2x2x 1/4 38" long for $9.00. Then they proceeded to throw various sizes and lengths of channel and angle in the back of my truck. Mostly 30" stuff. They said it was all bid into jobs and was paid for.. One day I went there collecting those long pallets to store wood on. I asked for a price on a 4x8 sheet of 10gs expanded metal. The owner said that if I weld a sheet on s customers trailer outside I could have one for free. Took 90 minutes and they all laughed at me for doing it but hey, It just makes sense to make friends in the busineess if possible..

Oldoak · Nov 13, 2018

Not just steel, but almost everything I purchase, I always compare the "bottom line" price as to whether I purchase local or on-line. Unless of course I need it as soon as possible and the item is available locally, then a local purchase it is, without comparing on-line bottom line pricing.

tjkubota93 · Nov 13, 2018

crazyal said:
Most steel I buy is stock lengths so it doesn't make sense to buy on-line but every so often I need a small piece. Usually something that costs less than $10. It's about a half hour out of my way to get to the local steel place so I look on-line. Each time I just laugh at the shipping quote. For example I need a 12" piece of 1/2" cold rolled square steel. The price of the steel is about $3 but the shipping charges are between $16 to $20. That's about the price of a stock length at the local steel yard. Each time I think "this can't cost too much to ship" I find myself saying, no thanks. I could understand if you really need it and live hours away. Do any of you buy from these places?

I did the same a couple months ago. Found some small stainless trim I liked. Maybe $50 worth. $400 shipping. I probably won't look at that much anymore.........

Industrial Toys · Nov 13, 2018

Have you put a fleet of trucks and drivers on the road lately? And you think $20.00 for deliver is too much?

Maybe they should deliver it for a couple of bucks.

I can't even drive far in my 2500 for $20.00 of fuel alone.

dragoneggs · Nov 13, 2018

I have looked at Metal on line and not only the price of the material seemed a fair amount higher than my LWS, the shipping cost made it an easy decision. Plus, I like going to the LWS and getting metal and maybe a couple cuts at a $1 per. I only wish they would discount scraps but they don't give in 'inch' regardless of length.

I know it would be cheaper to go to a metal yard in Tacoma or Seattle but then I am making a three hour or so round trip vs. an hour and I am not familiar with those places.

CADplans · Nov 13, 2018

Simply design your projects around Amazon offerings,,,

Access Denied

Smatter in a few pieces from eBay,,

steel bar stock | eBay

You have your steel shipped to you C H E A P !!,,, :cool2:

MossRoad · Nov 13, 2018

Yes, I have purchased metal on line from, well, On Line Metals .com :laughing:

Online Metal Store | Small Quantity Metal Orders | Metal Cutting, Sales & Shipping | Buy Steel, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Stainless | Metal Product Guides at OnlineMetals.com

I needed some small pieces for a sculpture I was making and I also needed a small section of DOM tubing.

Nice folks. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Tractor Seabee · Nov 13, 2018

I but the same place Dragoneggs does. They treat me well, give me a break hen they can and prices are fair for being 30 miles from he big suppliers they have to buy from. They carry a pretty good stock and will cut as he says for $1. I always see if they have a cut piece close to the length I need. Put the balance in my rack and saves a $. I always look through their short ends. As D knows I can accumulate a pile of misc. Handy for those quickie jobs with not a lot invested. Since moving to town I don't fab as much as I did on the ranch.

Ron

dragoneggs · Nov 14, 2018

Tractor Seabee said:
I but the same place Dragoneggs does. They treat me well, give me a break hen they can and prices are fair for being 30 miles from he big suppliers they have to buy from. They carry a pretty good stock and will cut as he says for $1. I always see if they have a cut piece close to the length I need. Put the balance in my rack and saves a $. I always look through their short ends. As D knows I can accumulate a pile of misc. Handy for those quickie jobs with not a lot invested. Since moving to town I don't fab as much as I did on the ranch.

Ron

Yeah, as you know, I have some of your scraps, Ron! Thanks!!! Felt bad about unloading you a bit. :drink: