Where to buy steel? Just learning how to weld... - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

prestonlaw · 09-28-2008, 09:51 AM

I have no idea where to begin. I just bought a Hobart 140 and I want to start practicing some welds but I'm not sure who sells assorted flat steel, angle iron, etc. Do chains like Lowes or Home Depot sell this or do you have to find some local supplier?

I live in Raleigh, NC -so if anyone knows of something local let me know.

Big91RustyBucket · 09-28-2008, 09:53 AM

Lowes or The Depot will have some. But most Rake you over the Coals Majorly. Depending what your working on I used alot of Used Steel . I buy @ .65 a Pound. For everything Used they have.

Just take grinder , with flap disk , and clean for welding. Works great.

ky scrambled · 09-28-2008, 09:55 AM

Steel is way too expensive to just buy to practice on. Do you have any scrap to play with? You close to any junk yards?

HahnsB2 · 09-28-2008, 12:16 PM

Agreed, but if you have to, check the phonebook, should be some steel yards in there.

MochaMike · 09-28-2008, 01:15 PM

Look under salvage/recycling in the phone book.
Go down to some of them & BS with them.
Also, you can BS with guys at regular steel supplier to see if they have shorts (left over scrap that was cut up for customers).

Salvation Army/Goodwill is good for steel bed frames (angle iron).

abig84 · 09-28-2008, 02:39 PM

yeah just practice on old junk, heck weld old nuts and bolts together. i practiced on exhaust pipe. after i tried to weld two pieces of aluminum diamond plate together, didnt work so great

Big91RustyBucket · 09-28-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abig84

yeah just practice on old junk, heck weld old nuts and bolts together. i practiced on exhaust pipe. after i tried to weld two pieces of aluminum diamond plate together, didnt work so great

Damn Joe That's funny ...

77fixer · 10-11-2008, 05:30 AM

Definitely look for metal recyclers. I pay .30/lb and the only new metal on my truck is the tube for the cage. Also, check for remnants at the steel dealers. One place I go to sells anything under 3' for .30/lb and another was the same price up to 6' for a while.

Hypoid · 10-12-2008, 05:33 PM

A supplier may also call "shorts" or "remnants" "drops". Depends on who it is, what terminology they like.

Also watch the curb. Bed frames, exercise equipment, bikes, et cetera will show up on trash night.

Watch out for galvanized stuff though, you don't want to breath that or chrome.

MSTSFAB · 10-12-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypoid

Watch out for galvanized stuff though, you don't want to breath that or chrome.

Funny you should say that because thats basically the only kind of steel I have! I got all of the fence tubbing from a tennis court that was torn down. That stuff is pretty thick and heavy but FREE. I generally grind all the galvinization of before I weld though.

blackrider · 10-12-2008, 06:46 PM

try looking up these guys..
South Atlantic Steel, Inc Raleigh NC
welding galvie.. make sure you set up a fan that pulls the air away from you
if you start feeling nauseous it's to late

rockcity · 10-13-2008, 12:15 PM

steel and pipe in sanford
also try marmon keystone, ryerson, BMG, metals usa, Barns tin shop...

dopeassjackson · 10-13-2008, 01:53 PM

go to your local transfer station (dump) and ask them if you can take some metal bead frames. its like 1/8x1.5 angle iron. i use the stuff for all sorts of junk from a rack to haul long metal or wood around to a welder cart, cant beat it for free.

44Runner · 10-14-2008, 01:07 PM

i would put a post in the regional section to see if there is a PBB member close to you that has some.

For example I have a whole pile of scrap tube just laying in a corner. Some of it is already notched. Little shorties. I would love to give them to someone to practice on. Just today I was out in the garage thinking damn, i need to get rid of some of this scrap. Giving them to someone to learn to weld on is the best idea I have had for them yet....

rockcity · 10-14-2008, 02:54 PM

Yeah. I just got rid of about 200# of "drop" tube with some bends, notches, copes, etc. etc. Most was 1' or less, but good practice for a newb.

09-28-2008, 09:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
prestonlaw Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Member # 117688 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 105	Where to buy steel? Just learning how to weld... I have no idea where to begin. I just bought a Hobart 140 and I want to start practicing some welds but I'm not sure who sells assorted flat steel, angle iron, etc. Do chains like Lowes or Home Depot sell this or do you have to find some local supplier? I live in Raleigh, NC -so if anyone knows of something local let me know.

09-28-2008, 09:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
ky scrambled Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Member # 85771 Location: Minnachoada Posts: 2,032	Steel is way too expensive to just buy to practice on. Do you have any scrap to play with? You close to any junk yards? __________________ Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

09-28-2008, 12:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
HahnsB2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Member # 112788 Location: Battle Ground WA Posts: 588	Agreed, but if you have to, check the phonebook, should be some steel yards in there. __________________ Locked and LTB'd BII.

10-12-2008, 06:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
blackrider Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37690 Location: Siskiyou County Posts: 2,282	try looking up these guys.. South Atlantic Steel, Inc Raleigh NC welding galvie.. make sure you set up a fan that pulls the air away from you if you start feeling nauseous it's to late __________________ . . . . 4.3 vortec/tbi,yota axles/dual cases,40's, stauns,oba,4 linked,coilovers,zook tub [COLOR="blue"][SIZE="3"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]NotQuiteRight Wheelers[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR] Last edited by blackrider; 10-12-2008 at 06:48 PM.

10-13-2008, 12:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
rockcity Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 64837 Location: NC Posts: 1,324 Blog Entries: 3	steel and pipe in sanford also try marmon keystone, ryerson, BMG, metals usa, Barns tin shop... __________________ [CENTER][COLOR="Red"][SIZE="5"]East Coast Offroad Racing Series[/SIZE][/COLOR] [B][SIZE="4"][CENTER][url]www.ECORS.com[/url][/CENTER][/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] [SIZE="3"][B][COLOR="RoyalBlue"]Visit ECORS on Facebook![/COLOR][/B][/SIZE] [B][SIZE="3"] Chris Brower (snappy1978), Authorized [COLOR="Red"]SNAP ON [/COLOR]Dealer Mud Pro Metalworks [url]www.mudprometalworks.com[/url] [B][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Red"]Big Horn Graphics[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [url]www.bighorn-graphics.com[/url] [COLOR="Lime"]Oliver's Custom Driveshaft [url] www.oliverscustomdriveshaft.com[/url][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE="3"][B]Albemarle Screenprinting and Embroidery, Hertferd NC[/B][/SIZE] [B][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Blue"]Blue Torch Fab [url]www.bluetorchfab.com[/url][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

10-11-2008, 05:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
77fixer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Member # 9679 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 164	Definitely look for metal recyclers. I pay .30/lb and the only new metal on my truck is the tube for the cage. Also, check for remnants at the steel dealers. One place I go to sells anything under 3' for .30/lb and another was the same price up to 6' for a while.

10-12-2008, 05:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Hypoid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Member # 116065 Location: Boston Posts: 128	A supplier may also call "shorts" or "remnants" "drops". Depends on who it is, what terminology they like. Also watch the curb. Bed frames, exercise equipment, bikes, et cetera will show up on trash night. Watch out for galvanized stuff though, you don't want to breath that or chrome.

10-13-2008, 01:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
dopeassjackson Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Member # 54522 Location: NY Posts: 2,746	go to your local transfer station (dump) and ask them if you can take some metal bead frames. its like 1/8x1.5 angle iron. i use the stuff for all sorts of junk from a rack to haul long metal or wood around to a welder cart, cant beat it for free. __________________ 86 4runner 7MGE bobed, exo, SAS on 38s, 5.29, fully locked with duals/4.7 and 30spl longs

10-14-2008, 01:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
44Runner Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9095 Location: Mount Pleasant, SC Posts: 2,867	i would put a post in the regional section to see if there is a PBB member close to you that has some. For example I have a whole pile of scrap tube just laying in a corner. Some of it is already notched. Little shorties. I would love to give them to someone to practice on. Just today I was out in the garage thinking damn, i need to get rid of some of this scrap. Giving them to someone to learn to weld on is the best idea I have had for them yet.... __________________ Buggy in progress - 22RE on pane, A340, 4.7:1, 8" f/r, 4Ds Project Straight Pimpin' - 1989 4Runner 3.slow 5spd SAS'd 8" F&R w/4.30 255/85R16 2005 Ram 2500 4x4 CTD 6spd QC SWB

10-14-2008, 02:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
rockcity Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 64837 Location: NC Posts: 1,324 Blog Entries: 3	Yeah. I just got rid of about 200# of "drop" tube with some bends, notches, copes, etc. etc. Most was 1' or less, but good practice for a newb. __________________ [CENTER][COLOR="Red"][SIZE="5"]East Coast Offroad Racing Series[/SIZE][/COLOR] [B][SIZE="4"][CENTER][url]www.ECORS.com[/url][/CENTER][/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] [SIZE="3"][B][COLOR="RoyalBlue"]Visit ECORS on Facebook![/COLOR][/B][/SIZE] [B][SIZE="3"] Chris Brower (snappy1978), Authorized [COLOR="Red"]SNAP ON [/COLOR]Dealer Mud Pro Metalworks [url]www.mudprometalworks.com[/url] [B][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Red"]Big Horn Graphics[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [url]www.bighorn-graphics.com[/url] [COLOR="Lime"]Oliver's Custom Driveshaft [url] www.oliverscustomdriveshaft.com[/url][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE="3"][B]Albemarle Screenprinting and Embroidery, Hertferd NC[/B][/SIZE] [B][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Blue"]Blue Torch Fab [url]www.bluetorchfab.com[/url][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] Last edited by rockcity; 10-14-2008 at 02:54 PM.

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