General welding questions that dont fit in TIG, MIG, Stick, or Certification etc.
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I live way out in the sticks and have to drive at least an hour each way to the nearest place to buy steel. I am curious about online suppliers. Any suggestions and/or opinions of some of the online sources? Thanks.
We are not lawyers nor physicians, but welders do it in all positions!

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nickn372
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If you check prices you will typically pay a premium price. Unless you buy in huge amounts which by then you might as well keep going where you are now and their price will reflect the large purchase too. Ask your current supplier about delivery. They may be willing to provide this for you if you are a good customer with good volume and they may do it for little to no extra cost. That's how the materials warehouses work around me anyway. If you are just way that far out or you use very little material this may be your disadvantage.

Or if there is others like you you could make a business out of supplying them to or work together on getting mixed loads of material out your way. Just a thought....
Be the monkey....
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Thanks. I made contact with a guy at a machine shop in the area who gets metal delivered most weeks from a large supplier. He will let me buy through his company at his cost :-)
Problem seems to be solved.
We are not lawyers nor physicians, but welders do it in all positions!

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xwrench wrote:Thanks. I made contact with a guy at a machine shop in the area who gets metal delivered most weeks from a large supplier. He will let me buy through his company at his cost :-)
Problem seems to be solved.
supply some donuts,certainly helps friendships in this area
especially the shop guys handling the material
Last edited by rick9345 on Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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rick9345 wrote:
xwrench wrote:Thanks. I made contact with a guy at a machine shop in the area who gets metal delivered most weeks from a large supplier. He will let me buy through his company at his cost :-)
Problem seems to be solved.
supply some donuts,certainly helps friendships in this area
especially the shop guys handling the material
Good thinking... Grease his palm (pun intended) with McDonald's dollar sausage biscuits or a couple dozen donuts now and then, and he might throw in a bit of shop surplus as lagniappe...

Steve S
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rick9345 wrote:
xwrench wrote:Thanks. I made contact with a guy at a machine shop in the area who gets metal delivered most weeks from a large supplier. He will let me buy through his company at his cost :-)
Problem seems to be solved.
supply some donuts,certainly helps friendships in this area
especially the shop guys handling the material

I make many friends and repeat customers around here with a dozen doughnuts. Good call.
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Silly me. I only brought him a six pack when I made the deal ;)
We are not lawyers nor physicians, but welders do it in all positions!

Miller Dynasty 280DX
Lincoln 210 MP
Miller 625 X-Treme
Hobart Handler 150
Victor Oxygen-acetylene torch
Miller/Lincoln Big 40-SA200 hybrid
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I guess it all depends on what time of day you make these deals. 7AM it's doughnuts and 7PM it's Coors Light. :) Unless it's the shop down the street from me, they sleep all day and weld all night, then it's always Coors Light. :)

I've used speedymetals.com, their fast shipping and have a good variety of oddball stuff, not cheap though. I've bought Al. tubing from them when I couldn't find a drop and would have to buy a full length otherwise, saved on that one.

Len
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Len
dsmabe
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I've been using metalsdepot.com, seem to be alot cheaper than speedy metal. As long as you don't need really long/oversized pieces they will cut everything down to fit on ups.
I ordered 80ft of 5/16 round bar
20 ft 1/4x1 flat stock
1'x2'x20ga brushed 304
4'x4'x20ga mild steel
16' 1/8 x 1/2 x 1/2 aluminum angle
I don't think i forgot anything, but it was delivered in about 4 days and the whole order cost about $151.00
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dsmabe wrote:...I don't think i forgot anything, but it was delivered in about 4 days and the whole order cost about $151.00
Building a sign for Bacardi Rum?
;)

Steve S
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Lol, no, some pieces just to keep around the shop. A sheet of stainless for a favor, round stock for some projects if i ever get time.
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Hey,

That round bar alone would cost close to your $152 here in AUS.
:-(

Mick
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