Need some metal

[zahc]

I need a piece of 1/4inch-ish metal, aluminum or steel, about 3 inches wide and 10 or 12 inches long. Being a city dweller, I can't just go out to the fencerow to my stash of old cars and find some scrap. I have to actually find a store and buy some. They don't sell metal like that at normal hardware stores, and I called some metal companies and they only sell giant rolls of stuff. I MIGHT be able to make angle work. Any ideas where to buy metal?

[Nick1911]

http://www.onlinemetals.com/

Really though, if you're going to do much of this at all, you NEED a local source.  Shipping will kill you on metal.

At least in Kansas City, we have a shop specifically catering to the small order metal user... http://www.metalbythefoot.com/

It's possiable that you have something similar around.  Also, many machine shops will sell you raw metal stock.  Won't be as cheap as a dedicated place, though. 

[zxcvbob]

You need to find a good junk yard.  Goto their fencerow stash of old cars and find some scrap; pay twice what it's worth (that's still cheap.)

[Nick1911]

I've never had good luck finding metal in junkyards.  Not much usable thicker stuff, anyway.

[RoadKingLarry]

That almost sounds like a piece of truck leaf spring you're needing, come on over and you can scrounge my junk pile parts stack.

Have you tried a farm and ranch supply store? also my local ACE has what they call "weld metal", different sizes and shapes of various types of metals.

[erictank]

I need a piece of 1/4inch-ish metal, aluminum or steel, about 3 inches wide and 10 or 12 inches long. Being a city dweller, I can't just go out to the fencerow to my stash of old cars and find some scrap. I have to actually find a store and buy some. They don't sell metal like that at normal hardware stores, and I called some metal companies and they only sell giant rolls of stuff. I MIGHT be able to make angle work. Any ideas where to buy metal?

That's at (possibly just beyond) the upper limit of what you might find for hobby work - have you looked at a model/train/RC aircraft store?  They *MIGHT* carry something that thick - other dimensions should be fine, though you might have to do some cutting (don't know if they do 3" W, but they might have 4" and should have 6"W *12"L). It will be more expensive - you pay for convenience - but you shouldn't have to chop it off of a massive pile of rusty car parts.

[zahc]

Truck leaf spring would work; I also thought of lawmower blades but those are pretty hard. I don't have a torch or welder--just a sawzall. If I didn't need it to be so thin, I would use a piece of good plywood.

[Nick1911]

Truck leaf spring would work; I also thought of lawmower blades but those are pretty hard. I don't have a torch or welder--just a sawzall. If I didn't need it to be so thin, I would use a piece of good plywood.

lawmower blade is a good idea.  I can cut them with a file, they aren't terribly hard. (it would shatter if you hit a rock, otherwise!)

[lupinus]

Check the local ace or farm supply, if they don't have it they may be able to order it.

Or, see if there are any metal fab/welding shops around. Give a call and see if any would sell you a piece of scrap that would fit your needs.

[French G.]

Cruise the streets on large item trash day. I was always amazed at what people scrapped. Find a home gym, lawnmower, something, tear it apart and put the rest back on the curb.

[HankB]

If you can't find anything locally and need to order on-line despite shipping costs, here are some links:

http://www.sherline.com/online.htm

[lee n. field]

http://www.onlinemetals.com/

no lead.

[dogmush]

Find your local metal distributor, Call them and ask which store has "drops" and go dig through their pile until you find one you need.  Most will shear it for you for ~$1 a cut so you can get exactly the measurements you want.  Al and steel drops are sold by the pound, What you're describing should be less then $20 bucks.

http://www.alro.com/  These are my local guys.  That's the kind of place you're looking for.  Full on industrial metal distributor.

I buy metal drops all the time.  It's so much better and easier then trying to save some rusted out, bent up junkyard find.

[Chuck Dye]

The shop of every trucking company I have driven for has had such stock on hand for repairs.   The crews of most of those shops would likely help you out.

When I was hauling steel on flat bed trucks, every fabricator I delivered to had a scrap pile.  I have bought some steel from one, been given some by another.

Run a search on "industrial metal supply" plus your location.  My local outfit, one I have hauled steel to, has a cutoff bin with bits and pieces left from other customers' projects, sells them by weight.

[erik the bold]

McMaster Carr, Inc.  out of Cleveland  (with warehouses around the country)

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-sheets/=ftfckf
Aluminum 1/4" x 3" x 3'  p/n 8975K873  $23

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-steel-sheets/=ftfe7j
Low carbon general purpose steel  1/4" x 3" x 1'  p/n 8910K572   $15.60

[Tallpine]

Any welding shop should be able to sell you what you want.

You will probably pay more for the cutting fee than for the value of the metal itself.


Years ago, I could get small scrap at a junkyard where I could just go roam around and pick things up.  Might pay five bucks for a five gallon bucket full.  I used to buy small pieces that had nice round holes in them, to weld onto stuff for mounting brackets, etc 

A buddy of mine bought a pile of scrap for $5 at a farm auction.  Turned out it was sitting in a hole  (iceberg principle)  We hauled 3 or 4 6x12' trailer loads out of there - thought for a while it was never going to end.  There was some good stuff in there too 

[Harold Tuttle]

find a fastenal

http://www.fastenal.com

[zahc]

There is a metal company just down the road (Trident metals), but they deal with huge quantities and rolls of stuff...I bought some 2" plate there once. I walked into the dock and asked nicely if they had a scrap pile, and they gave me a piece of 5" by 14" by 1/4 aluminum for free. Sweet!

[230RN]

Try a recycler.  My son gets a lot of stock out of the recycler guy.

[Gowen]

Look in your phone book for a machinist shop.  Ask them if they have a scrap piece you can buy.  Shouldn't pay too much.  Get a hacksaw and cut it down yourself.  Save the money.  I cut something for myself with a cheap Harbor Freight sawsall.   

[drewtam]

Have you tried a farm and ranch supply store? also my local ACE has what they call "weld metal", different sizes and shapes of various types of metals.

+1

My local Menards has welding supplies with iron and aluminum pieces of various types (tube, flat, angle, etc).

[MechAg94]

Look in your phone book for a machinist shop.  Ask them if they have a scrap piece you can buy.  Shouldn't pay too much.  Get a hacksaw and cut it down yourself.  Save the money.  I cut something for myself with a cheap Harbor Freight sawsall.   

I agree.  Machine shops should have stuff like that and can cut it cheap likely. 

I'd bet the local scrap yard here might have something though it is hard to say.

[InfidelSerf]

The one thing I miss the most about living in Wichita
http://www.yardstore.com/index.htm    That place is like a little slice of heaven :)  
They formed due to being in the heart of aircraft fab country.
I'm not sure if you could call them up give them the specs and see if you can have it shipped to you.
I'll have to look at the small collection of aluminum chunks I have laying around.  I'm not sure I have anything that long.

It seems they are focusing more on tools these days.  But the whole place is a scrap yard from heaven, all the aluminum titanium and steel you can think of.