Metal

[bredstein]

What would be the best place to buy simple mild steel angles, tubes, pipes, rods, etc., just what you may need for a basic home welding? Orange and blue boxes seem to be overpriced to me.

[tomsexpress]

I use Metal Supermarket---- http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/msc-home.aspx

[specter]

Well if you buy steel at Lowe's, Home Depot, Tractor Supply or your local hardware store then you are paying far too much. If you have a steel yard or recycling yard nearby those are the places to go. There are other places to shop one of my favorites is while driving around looking for metal items folks are tossing out. Steel Bed Frames are #1 on my collection great angle steel. And don't forget the back of some stores. My brother is a friend of the local Super Walmart manage! My brother drove me behind Walmart on day and I saw all the stuff they had set aside in case I wanted it. I grap what I want and the rest I either donate to places to Goodwill or Salvation Army or haul it to another one of my friends scrap yards. In return I have fixed some of the Walmart carts and other items. Word got around and now I have more scrap than I can handle so I pass it onto other shops as well. Neat thing is that I also picked up some welding jobs.

[wb4rt]

Hey, bredstein.
I'm just a hobby business welder and I have found a lot of good items at the scrap yard. You have to go a few times to check what they have, but you will be surprised at the new steel - drop offs - that go there. A little time with a grinder and it is like new for a fraction of the price. Check a few different yards to find one that will let you pick and choose what you need.
I do buy from a local industrial supplier. I checked prices in the beginning and now I try to always buy from the same one. That way they start to know you and ALL of your business is worth their time. If you buy from here and there, then they never get enough business that they want to fool with it. I set up an account and they will deliver to my house if I need them to. Usually I pick it up in my small truck and they cut 20 and 21 foot lengths in half for me at no charge. I really like to buy from them.

NOTE TO ANY INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIERS: I would buy a lot more tools, wire, components, etc. from you instead of the Blue and Orange boxes, but I don't always know exactly what I want. So I like to be able to stand and look, measure and figure which parts go with what to do my project. And I like to know the prices before I checkout. Since I can't go behind the counter to "shop", and the prices are always some mystery that seems to change day to day, I end up spending thousands of dollars a year elsewhere.
I have been in the retail business and believe me I completely understand that you can't have people strolling around in your bins. I also know that prices vary by the size of the order/customer, if you deliver or not, is it credit or cash, etc. I don't know the answer, but I think you are missing a lot of precious dollars right now. I know you can put a good mark on sales to people like me and I would still be willing to buy from you because you have better quality and good advice. I just don't like to show my ignorance in asking a lot of questions, not knowing the proper nomenclature or part numbers, etc.
Has anyone figured out a business model that works for guys like me (other than Blue and Orange)?

[bredstein]

Thank you, friends, for ideas. Now I know what to look for in the Yellow pages!