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Re: Scrap Metal

Good call. Transport might be the issue. I have a recycling depot close to me, as this is probably where these are going. I could ask down there.

Re: Scrap Metal

If you just want to practice, and don't mind grinding off some paint, check your local craigslist - offerup for grills. It is pretty to see them for free - while the gas parts may be rusted out, often a lot of the time , the upper parts of the legs are fine.

Re: Scrap Metal

Excellent. Didn't see that one. TNT closed down last year, and could have had a look there. Cheers

Re: Scrap Metal

Maybe check some big box strores, grocery stores etc. A lot of time they throw away steel display racks that they don't use any more.

Re: Scrap Metal

I'm on my way there now. This type of structural stuff I see myself needing, as I'd build functional office stuff.

Cheers

Re: Scrap Metal

Not at all. Someone suggested garage sales, which was excellent insight. It isn't difficult to say it's easier to go to CT or MS instead of roaming around a huge place like Toronto, simply because of the economics. Beyond that, garage sales keep it local, varied, and light. That is exactly what I was looking for. If I was wishing to get into this heavier, I'd be willing to drive across this town, which is massive. There's no attitude, just lack of understanding by others.

Re: Scrap Metal

Originally Posted by G-ManBart

No scrap doesn't mean they are tossing it out, it means it's leftovers from a project and it's almost always sold. If a shop has scrap they give away it's going to be people they have a relationship with, not somebody who walks through the door one day asking for free stuff. You might as well be a panhandler asking for change....same thing.

I know of people who have talked to fab shops and been allowed to go through their scrap bin and take what they want. They would always offer them $50 every couple of weeks or so. Got some really good cut off pieces pieces of plate.

I talked to a shop that was a customer where I worked. They did some heavy structural welding. I said I was looking for a big H beam to make a drag to level my MX track. The owner said he had a big beam he could give me for FREE. It was something like 160lbs. a foot! and about 7'ft. long. I went to take a look but someone else had apparently took the beam. He said he might have another beam but not as heavy. We went out back and he showed me a beam about 8ft. long with the ends bandsaw cut at 45 deg's. This beam couldn't be used for the project because when they cut it was too short. I made arrangements to get my trailer and come pick it up. They used their forklift to load it. It was absolutely free and weighed 107lbs. per foot. About 800lbs.! It never hurts to talk to shops and see what they might have for you. I also got a piece of 2in. DOM tube about 18in. long free from a tubing supplier to use as a line up pin to repair my backhoe. It wasn't on their inventory list or would have cost about $50.

Re: Scrap Metal

If scrap is just thrown away why does EVERY shop that does metal metal work hire a metal recycling company to park a bin at their shop (pay rent for bin) and then pay them to haul it away? The bins aren't taken until full. At the end of the day the fab shop makes a little money that gives them a profit after paying the scrap company to haul it away. The scrap company makes more money by separating and grading all the "scrap" to get the best price from the steel or other metal foundries. You just really don't have much of a clue how things work.

I think everybody has tried to help you but you have other idea's. I would hazard a guess that you are on your own here on out. You certainly won't have any time to work on your projects. Might be a good idea to consider returning the welder to Canadian Tire???

Don't need a response I'm done! I have much more pressing issues than spending time trying to help you. It's bringing me down which is the worst thing for fighting an illness, especially on chemo day. Good luck

Re: Scrap Metal

Originally Posted by G-ManBart

No scrap doesn't mean they are tossing it out, it means it's leftovers from a project and it's almost always sold. If a shop has scrap they give away it's going to be people they have a relationship with, not somebody who walks through the door one day asking for free stuff. You might as well be a panhandler asking for change....same thing.

Thank you G-Man


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Re: Scrap Metal

I dislike going to Princess Auto as my branch is notorious for terrible staff.

Went there tonight (20 minute drive/no traffic) to pick up flyer sale shop supplies.

Snapped this pic for the OP...




Not scrap but clean and ready to use.


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Re: Scrap Metal

Sounds a little entitled too. You may be right about the Troll alert. Hard to tell if anything about money cars and his age are true. That's why I asked his age. Thought it might be a teen looking to learn to weld and still has the millennial entitlement mind set. Maybe he'll come back and explain his situation in a more pleasant tone??? Just thought about where he's going to weld in downtown Toronto, garage maybe? I guess we'll see.

Re: Scrap Metal

Originally Posted by daBee

I think you need to read more. Buying scrap is the same thing as buying anything new. Scrap means they're tossing it out.

No scrap doesn't mean they are tossing it out, it means it's leftovers from a project and it's almost always sold. If a shop has scrap they give away it's going to be people they have a relationship with, not somebody who walks through the door one day asking for free stuff. You might as well be a panhandler asking for change....same thing.

Re: Scrap Metal

I almost never say this, but TROLL alert.

He doesn't seem to know how a forum works, and replies to people without quoting them so nobody knows exactly what's going on.

He didn't give enough details for anybody to make a really specific answer.

He's posting with an obvious attitude.

He's too busy to drive a few minutes, doesn't want to pay for something, has plenty of money and replies with an argumentative tone to virtually every comment.

Oh wait, he did say "That's a great idea" after two pages of replies....but that same suggestion was in the first reply to him.

Anybody that thinks they can just pop in to some business and walk out with free steel right now isn't too bright.

Re: Scrap Metal

Metal Super Market has anything you need but pricey. As far as any other advice, Good Luck! Not even sure why you posted in the first place when you appear to already have all the answers. A sour attitude gets you nowhere, especially on here. It would have been very easy to cut down everything you inquired about. Change the attitude if you want further assistance is my best suggestion.

Re: Scrap Metal

Well, let's have a quick look. The welder is still in the box. A "regular supply" for someone being introduced to this would be just that. Your idea of regular source would mean picking through stuff once a week. Not for me. Second, like I've brought up before more than once, it's a flux core welder. I expect this would dictate small stuff. Third, I consult for companies around the world, and I have plenty of money. I want this to be a light hobby at best, and you think I'm going to dedicate my house to run out into the skirts of the city or maybe out in the middle of some small town, so I can start welding things. Not so. I own a BMW convertible, and I'm over 50. I don't think I need to explain the economics of chasing some light metal parts around a downtown core, versus driving around trying for scrap that's cheaper when I live in the downtown core of a big city. At any price of gas, it kills the whole concept of looking for things that are close, if I have to put some major time into searching for it. I'm not getting defensive, as I have nothing to get defensive on. Driving 30 minutes to find cheaper metal makes no sense, and I don't think I have to describe why.

My welder is still in the box. I don't have any pics. Hence me asking where to find some odd stuff to get moving on. I don't know why this is so confusing as I'm just looking for some cheap scraps for whatever reason. No I don't have a project. I don't want to be driving for 30 minutes (typical in my city for stuff like this...going to Princess Auto tomorrow is a morning jaunt, and I'm bundling other targets to go with the effort) to find stuff. I was only thinking there could be some kind of source for suitable metals. Someone recommended garage sales and I thought that would be great. Excellent suggestion.

Lastly, I have no clue what I'm looking for. Welder still in the box. I can't explain what it is I'm looking for as I have absolutely no clue. I don't know where it comes from, how much it regularly costs. I have Canadian Tire and Metal Supermarket, and I'm not sure what they offer outside of what I've seen. Thinking there might be some kind of source from a certain type of retail sector, might be a regular go-to I haven't even thought of. I tried getting some wood pieces from a local furniture supplier and I heard nothing back. Not sure if this is normal as well.

Re: Scrap Metal

Originally Posted by daBee

Well I bought a flux core welder, and was asking for scrap metal, as I'm a beginner. I'm not putting together a truck in my welding shop. The evidence is part of the posts I've submitted.

See, coming into a welding forum would be a logical place to ask others where they might find a regular source for small scrap. But I didn't think people would mistake "scrap" for "purchased metal". I thought the world would be explanatory, but it confused many.

It's also a case of you get what you pay for. People can't read your mind. Looking for a regular source adds to the dilemma. If you don't have the time or money, wait until you do. Getting a bunch of perfect scrap material for free but it's painted or coated is worse than having no material at all. You haven't told us your age as it would be important in providing a solution for you, It sounds like you're old enough to drive but maybe don't have your own car? and need a ride to get things? If you give more details like mentioned and don't get defensive you'll get far better responses. Everyone on here wants everyone else to be making sparks and building/repairing things. Posting pics. of your practicing and projects always gets members excited to see what others are doing. Doesn't matter if it's good, bad or questionable. Most are here to help you and/or offer suggestions to help you. Welding is an art. It is rewarding to be able to do it and other mere mortals can't. Always keep this in mind.

Re: Scrap Metal

Now I gotta get married? I'd rather drive to Mexico for scrap. Save money.

Re: Scrap Metal

Buy the wife the new washing machine that she has been nagging for,,
you will have all the metal you need for practice in the old machine,, you will be shocked what is in there,,

thats for a little flux core machine,, of course,,

Re: Scrap Metal

Actually that's a great idea. That's what I was looking for. Cheers

Re: Scrap Metal

Originally Posted by daBee

Nothing yet. Just trying to find light stuff. People bring up truck springs. Nothing like that. It's for household items like computer monitor mounts, hanging shelves, light stuff. I found Metal Supermarket.

daBee, the Truck Springs was an example of an item that that member was able to find for free , it was not a suggestion for you to use the same type of steel.

I live in a big city as well- 6 miles can take 45 mins due to cross town traffic.

BUT... it is what it is, it takes me 1/2 an hour to get to a steel supplier on weekends with light traffic and if there is a shoe in the road then all heck breaks loose on the freeway

As someone else mentioned, Scrap has a value to the scrap yard. Around here they don't let you in unless you are dropping off. They don't give anything away, nor even sell it.

The metal suppliers here and I believe most places have a Remnant/Cut Off section where you can buy the steel a little cheaper than full retail.

Re: Scrap Metal

Maybe you could invest 5 minutes and call one or two of the 50 or so places on the map of Toronto I posted. I'm sure one of them will have scraps and drops smaller than a bulldozer carcass. And if you're even marginally tolerable (hint: a lot less abrasive and obnoxious than you are here on the forum), they might even give you all you want, FREE!

Or, since it sounds like you want stuff smaller than a breadbox, why not troll the streets in your convertible on garbage day in search of coat hangers, tin cans, and various other junk that your welder can handle?

Just a thought. (Yeah, I know, you don't want to drive a whole mile...) Maybe post your address so we can deliver some to you?

You seem to be especially butthurt over the whole "leaf springs" thing. Here's a clue: Not everything tossed into the recycle bin at such places will be as big as a leaf spring. There will be a LOT of stuff that's the size of a bolt or 12d nail that your welder can handle.

It sounds to me like you just want to argue. "I can't do this because X." "I can't do that because Y." "I can't do this other thing because Z." "Nobody wants to help me WAAAAAAAAH!"

"I don't want to have to pay for it. I don't want to have to drive for it. I don't want to have to make a telephone call or Google search to find it. It can't be larger than a railroad spike or smaller than a staple. And it's got to be free."

Have a blast.

Re: Scrap Metal

To the OP,
If you design things for a living, you know having all the information and constraints up front saves time.

If you would have said:
I just bought a small 110V flux core welder and want to practice as well as make small things for my house.
I live in Toronto but dont like to drive more than 10 minutes or so one way.
I am looking for places where I can find or get scrap metal to practice.
I have a convertible car so the size I can carry is limited
A number of the local metal places have closed.
Are there any suggestions or ideas.

You probably would have received better answers

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Re: Scrap Metal

It must be terrible to have to drive for thirty minutes, I have to drive twenty minutes to town just to get a gallon of milk or a pizza and sometimes do it twice a day for something or other.

Re: Scrap Metal

Look at garage sales or what not. Find an old 2 drawer file cabinet and cut it up. Start looking at some furniture in a different light. Make your own scrap.

Re: Scrap Metal

Ya those stores are near me, but I thought there might be some other sources that might be something welders would know about that missed. Those stores, which are expensive (my guess), and Metal Supermarket, would be a last resort for me. I find dollar stores have relatively inexpensive metal items. My garage might have something inside, as they don't leave anything outside. Again, car parts are larger than I need.

Cheers