welding question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rick0312 · 12-01-2009, 08:25 PM

Just wondering where you guys purchase your steel stock from...(welding supply, home depot? etc). i am new to welding and was wondering where is the best place to purchase mild steel plate and other stock.

*vegaschevy* · 12-01-2009, 08:28 PM

I just buy it form a steel yard whenever I need a little scrap steel or smaller pieces.

**mr48chev** · 12-01-2009, 08:45 PM

I always go to steel yards or the scrap yards that will sell good clean pieces by the pound. There is a scrap yard in every area that buys the scrap from the metal fabrication shops. Usually you can pick up short pieces and small pieces for gussets and things by the pound.
Also from the metal fab shops them selves at times.
Most of my metal comes from a place called The Farm Shop" in Sunnyside, Wa that builds and repairs farm equipment especially dairy farm feed and manure hauling equipment. They have a full service metal sales shop plus you can go in an buy small pieces that are scrap to them at a lower price. I never buy any metal from the hardware, Lowes or Home Depot because it is way too
expensive.
Some yards charge a cut fee if they have to cut the metal out of a larger piece so it often pays to ask if they have a piece the length you need or just a little longer that doesn't have to be cut.
Check around as there should be several places to buy metal at a decent price in that area.

cdowns · 12-01-2009, 08:54 PM

i go to scrap and salvage yards ,i've also picked up alot of stock curbside out of the garbage

ask local hobbiests where to go,or check your local yellow pages

hchad18 · 12-01-2009, 10:13 PM

Try to stay away from Home Depot or other Hardware stores. Metal there costs a lot more.

mrein3 · 12-01-2009, 10:20 PM

Here in the Twin Cities I get lots of my stuff at http://www.discountsteel.com/

They have a cut-off pile where stuff is 50 cents or so a pound.

Since that place isn't on the way for me for any place I normally travel, and when I just need one small piece, Menards and Home Depot work because the time and money to drive down to Minneapolis isn't worth it.

It all depends on the job I'm doing.

unclewatts · 12-01-2009, 10:51 PM

I don't know about other places but our local welding supply carries a large selection of different stock. You could probably get some of it cheaper by just scouring the wrecking yards where a lot of people turn in steel stock for recycling.

grayw0lf · 12-02-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrein3

Here in the Twin Cities I get lots of my stuff at http://www.discountsteel.com/

They have a cut-off pile where stuff is 50 cents or so a pound.

Since that place isn't on the way for me for any place I normally travel, and when I just need one small piece, Menards and Home Depot work because the time and money to drive down to Minneapolis isn't worth it.

It all depends on the job I'm doing.

$.50/lb isn't all that cheap!

rick0312 · 12-02-2009, 01:44 PM

thanks all.... I 'll check out my local scrap yard. Checking out the weekly garbage is a great idea also....thanks

**chev-obsession** · 12-02-2009, 06:55 PM

depending on what you need, if your local steel yard has a scrap yard, check th scrap yard. you would be amazed at what people would throw away. one time i found a 12 foot peice of square tubing, got it for less than 15 bucks, not even half of what it would of cost for me to buy it new!

kevmic28 · 12-02-2009, 09:57 PM

There is a scrap yard by me that I drove by yesterday. I saw a guy there scrapping a 55 Belair. If I would have had the cash I would have bought it right there on his trailer. So you never know what you will find at the scrap yard.

LooseCannon · 12-02-2009, 10:46 PM

My local scrap yard won't sell to the public.

BarryB · 12-03-2009, 02:49 AM

I would also check local vendors. We have places that are steele suppliers for businesses in the area. I'm actually needing to get some angle iron myself to finish a trailer I've been building. American steel is the name of the supplier for my area.
I too agree though check with your scrap yard. Here they charge .20 a pound. I once bought a near perfect tailgate for a 91 chevy truck for 10 bucks.

rick0312 · 12-03-2009, 10:38 PM

just got my new lincoln electric handy mig in today. got home frome work and fired it up. This was my first time welding so i was a bit nervous....I found some great education videos on mig welding on the internet. I followed what the instructor said and I am now laying down some decent welds! This mig setup seems easy to learn. I used the flux core wire..... Oh well just wanted to let everybody know.

BarryB · 12-03-2009, 10:58 PM

Thats cool!, you'll have t post up link to said instruction videos.

basemodel67 · 12-04-2009, 01:36 AM

Welcome to welding! You will soon find out that when you get burned, it kinda smells like chicken.
P.S. - Don't weld without a helmet. Having your eyes feel like they are full of sand the next day is not great.

fastwillie 696969 · 12-04-2009, 01:45 AM

i like to use rear shackles from junk yards like the fords exploders

rick0312 · 12-04-2009, 08:58 PM

here is the video on mig welding. (spot welding only). Great for a beginner.

YouTube- Basic MIG Welding

12-01-2009, 08:25 PM	#1
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	welding question Just wondering where you guys purchase your steel stock from...(welding supply, home depot? etc). i am new to welding and was wondering where is the best place to purchase mild steel plate and other stock. __________________ 69 C10 LWB GM 350 crate motor, 3.73 rearend

12-01-2009, 08:28 PM	#2
vegaschevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2009 Location: las vegas nv Posts: 1,493	Re: welding question I just buy it form a steel yard whenever I need a little scrap steel or smaller pieces.

12-01-2009, 08:45 PM	#3
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,735	Re: welding question I always go to steel yards or the scrap yards that will sell good clean pieces by the pound. There is a scrap yard in every area that buys the scrap from the metal fabrication shops. Usually you can pick up short pieces and small pieces for gussets and things by the pound. Also from the metal fab shops them selves at times. Most of my metal comes from a place called The Farm Shop" in Sunnyside, Wa that builds and repairs farm equipment especially dairy farm feed and manure hauling equipment. They have a full service metal sales shop plus you can go in an buy small pieces that are scrap to them at a lower price. I never buy any metal from the hardware, Lowes or Home Depot because it is way too expensive. Some yards charge a cut fee if they have to cut the metal out of a larger piece so it often pays to ask if they have a piece the length you need or just a little longer that doesn't have to be cut. Check around as there should be several places to buy metal at a decent price in that area.

12-01-2009, 08:54 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: welding question i go to scrap and salvage yards ,i've also picked up alot of stock curbside out of the garbage ask local hobbiests where to go,or check your local yellow pages __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

12-01-2009, 10:13 PM	#5
hchad18 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 372	Re: welding question Try to stay away from Home Depot or other Hardware stores. Metal there costs a lot more. Last edited by hchad18; 12-01-2009 at 10:13 PM. Reason: I cant spell

12-01-2009, 10:20 PM	#6
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	Re: welding question Here in the Twin Cities I get lots of my stuff at http://www.discountsteel.com/ They have a cut-off pile where stuff is 50 cents or so a pound. Since that place isn't on the way for me for any place I normally travel, and when I just need one small piece, Menards and Home Depot work because the time and money to drive down to Minneapolis isn't worth it. It all depends on the job I'm doing. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

12-01-2009, 10:51 PM	#7
unclewatts 70 Chevrolet=Obsession Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nice ca Posts: 1,067	Re: welding question I don't know about other places but our local welding supply carries a large selection of different stock. You could probably get some of it cheaper by just scouring the wrecking yards where a lot of people turn in steel stock for recycling. __________________ I'm Just like my truck. Old, Ugly and Grouchy. Except my truck starts easily in the morning and doesn't smoke! IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN! -Kermit the frog 1970 Chevrolet C-10 Longbed Stepside : 350, Muncie M20, 3.08 GM corp. positraction Forest green exterior/light green interior(Where all my money goes) 1996 Toyota Corolla (Parts runner)

12-02-2009, 01:44 PM	#9
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Re: welding question thanks all.... I 'll check out my local scrap yard. Checking out the weekly garbage is a great idea also....thanks __________________ 69 C10 LWB GM 350 crate motor, 3.73 rearend

12-02-2009, 06:55 PM	#10
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,514	Re: welding question depending on what you need, if your local steel yard has a scrap yard, check th scrap yard. you would be amazed at what people would throw away. one time i found a 12 foot peice of square tubing, got it for less than 15 bucks, not even half of what it would of cost for me to buy it new! __________________ 1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb

12-02-2009, 09:57 PM	#11
kevmic28 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Arlington Texas Posts: 602	Re: welding question There is a scrap yard by me that I drove by yesterday. I saw a guy there scrapping a 55 Belair. If I would have had the cash I would have bought it right there on his trailer. So you never know what you will find at the scrap yard. __________________ 1970 GMC truck 1988 Harley 1200 Sportster

12-02-2009, 10:46 PM	#12
LooseCannon Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boiling Springs, PA Posts: 391	Re: welding question My local scrap yard won't sell to the public. __________________ Bagged 05 Suburban Bagged Baby Blue 68

12-03-2009, 02:49 AM	#13
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: welding question I would also check local vendors. We have places that are steele suppliers for businesses in the area. I'm actually needing to get some angle iron myself to finish a trailer I've been building. American steel is the name of the supplier for my area. I too agree though check with your scrap yard. Here they charge .20 a pound. I once bought a near perfect tailgate for a 91 chevy truck for 10 bucks. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff!

12-03-2009, 10:38 PM	#14
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Re: welding question just got my new lincoln electric handy mig in today. got home frome work and fired it up. This was my first time welding so i was a bit nervous....I found some great education videos on mig welding on the internet. I followed what the instructor said and I am now laying down some decent welds! This mig setup seems easy to learn. I used the flux core wire..... Oh well just wanted to let everybody know. __________________ 69 C10 LWB GM 350 crate motor, 3.73 rearend

12-03-2009, 10:58 PM	#15
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: welding question Thats cool!, you'll have t post up link to said instruction videos. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff!

12-04-2009, 01:36 AM	#16
basemodel67 Factory Strippers Rule! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shingle Springs, CA Posts: 707	Re: welding question Welcome to welding! You will soon find out that when you get burned, it kinda smells like chicken. P.S. - Don't weld without a helmet. Having your eyes feel like they are full of sand the next day is not great. __________________ "Feast your eyes on a feast of smoke." 67 Chevy Short Fleet PLAN: LQ9, 4L60, D60 Looking for School Bus Gauges - Help me out!



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12-04-2009, 01:45 AM	#17
fastwillie 696969 ~Rest In Peace~ Join Date: May 2005 Location: CALIFORNIA NOR CAL Posts: 9,707	Re: welding question i like to use rear shackles from junk yards like the fords exploders __________________ is it fast ? it has a lighting bolt donut? B___H please, I can remove 90% of your so called "beauty" with a kleenex

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