Fresh Metal

[JoshStratton]

I am getting kind of tired of hunting down old metal from cut up cars to use in my projects. Where do you professionals (or non-professionals for that matter) find/buy your clean, uncut metals that you use for fabricating new parts?

[Happyfunballs]

I get mine through an industrial steel supply company, but I don't think that'll help you. How much do you intend to buy? If you are into buying 4X8 sheets, that's the place you'll want to find, if you just need some small stuff, I think Lowe's and Home Depot carry smaller sections....although you'll pay out the butt for it.(comparitively speaking, of course))

[JoshStratton]

I have actually found Lowes and Home Depot's sections just recently. I want to build a console and fabricate a new tail-light section for my car so I will need something in the area of 4 x 8 sheets. I just thought of a place in Columbus, Ohio (where I am) that might work. Anyone in Columubs know if Worthington Industries sells it?

Happy - is this something you can find pretty readily in any town? Maybe I haven't been looking in the right places. I once asked a local fabricator and they said they just get the scraps from body shops and stuff. Seems kinda cheap to me.

[68protouring454]

any metal shop should carry sheets of metal, i would get 18 or 20 gauage, and it will cost around 40 bucks for the sheet, thats up from 20 bucks 1.5 years ago
jake

[bretcopsey]

Benjamin Steel Compnay has a location in Dayton, and I think I remember passing by another somewhere north (Lima?) on the way to my S-I-L's place in Ann Arbor. Anyway, the Dayton number is (937) 233-1212. They had a minimum $75 order when I called before. I have yet to actually buy anything from them though.


Just a thought in case the place you found doesn't work out.

[JoshStratton]

Awesome! Thanks! I am sure I will need it.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Sheet metal shop like Jake said. I generally work with 18 gauge. Sometimes 16 gauge if I want it to flex less. But that gets quite a bit more expensive.

[bretcopsey]

Found a website. They are headquartered in Springfield, a little closer...


http://www.benjaminsteel.com/about-Benjamin-Steel-Service-Centers.htm

[Happyfunballs]

Looks like you found a place.

[Camaro Zach]

any metal shop should carry sheets of metal, i would get 18 or 20 gauage, and it will cost around 40 bucks for the sheet, thats up from 20 bucks 1.5 years ago
jake YES it sucks price keeps going up. 18-20 is good 16 is overkill for most stuff.

[JoshStratton]

it will cost around 40 bucks for the sheet, thats up from 20 bucks 1.5 years ago
jake

Crap. I had no idea it was that much. Kinda makes you wanna be REAL careful when you work. Not much room for re-do's

[Matt@RFR]

Yeah, steel prices are nuts now. It used to be cheaper to build your own tools and such, now it's cheaper to buy them. Just be thankfull you're not working with stainless or aluminum.