online metals?
- Thread starter SkytopBrewster
- Start date
dirtycurty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
I use metal supermarket as well. I thought they were steep too until I bought metal from a couple other places and they seem to be about the same price or a bit cheaper. I like them because they usually always have what I need and that's worth the cost just because I hate having to call around and call places to see what they have. Usually they are ball park to what everywhere else costs.
Depends on what exactly and how much you need. If it's just a small bit of generic stuff call your local welding/metal working shop and see if they'll sell you a chunk. If you've got a big job planned they can steer you in the right direction for a service center in your area that would probably be able to order it or have it in stock.
Go to a local CNC or fabrication company and see where they get it from...
Metal supermarket is way over priced... On medium sized orders my company saves money by taking a ferry to the mainland (about $300 in just ferry costs...)
Metal supermarket is way over priced... On medium sized orders my company saves money by taking a ferry to the mainland (about $300 in just ferry costs...)
Metal Supermarkets is to metal suppliers, what 7-11 is to grocery shopping. And they are up front about being about convenience not price. That said, if you can walk in, they usually have a pretty good selection of off cuts and remnants to paw through, at better than their normal prices. They will also sell you an inch off the end of a bar of 4 inch diameter brass, where the other suppliers want you to buy the whole thing ($$$$$$!).
A couple of the US mail order metal suppliers have started to ship in to Canada, with pre-paid brokerage and such all sorted out (ie: no surprise bill for another $75 from UPS or FedEx)) and may be worth dealing with. Check for adds in Home Shop Machinist magazine, if you get that. Get it, if you don't, eh!
KBC and others will sell you Starrett flat and round stock in various alloys.
If you are in any size city that has any industry, hit the phone book or web and see who sells stock. I have bought full sticks for less than the cost of what I needed out of other suppliers, by shopping around. Like ~$30 for a 12 foot stick of 7/8 12L14 round. They cut it in half for no charge too. Prices vary. A lot.Some outfits don't want to deal with small orders, some are only willing to sell on an account basis, some chase folks out with stupid cutting charges (was quoted $100 a cut at one place). Well worth the time spent in the lot with a hacksaw! Still the cheapest source I had at that time, too.
There are still a few old school scrap metal dealers around the country too.Had a decent on on the South shore outside Montreal that still gave out nudie calenders (because they knew their target audience pretty well) and had a great selection of rounds and chunks of various types of steels and other metals, some identified, others not, but cheap, by the pound.
Cheers
Trev
A couple of the US mail order metal suppliers have started to ship in to Canada, with pre-paid brokerage and such all sorted out (ie: no surprise bill for another $75 from UPS or FedEx)) and may be worth dealing with. Check for adds in Home Shop Machinist magazine, if you get that. Get it, if you don't, eh!
KBC and others will sell you Starrett flat and round stock in various alloys.
If you are in any size city that has any industry, hit the phone book or web and see who sells stock. I have bought full sticks for less than the cost of what I needed out of other suppliers, by shopping around. Like ~$30 for a 12 foot stick of 7/8 12L14 round. They cut it in half for no charge too. Prices vary. A lot.Some outfits don't want to deal with small orders, some are only willing to sell on an account basis, some chase folks out with stupid cutting charges (was quoted $100 a cut at one place). Well worth the time spent in the lot with a hacksaw! Still the cheapest source I had at that time, too.
There are still a few old school scrap metal dealers around the country too.Had a decent on on the South shore outside Montreal that still gave out nudie calenders (because they knew their target audience pretty well) and had a great selection of rounds and chunks of various types of steels and other metals, some identified, others not, but cheap, by the pound.
Cheers
Trev
Most places will cut and ship, even the big guys, they just don't have nice online shopping websites where you don't need to interact with anyone. Gotta call or email a rep.
I by mostly local, but for the weird stuff I order.
Surely there's a few good sources in Alberta.
Places like onlinemetals, mcmaster and so on are ok in a pinch or again weird stuff, but are far from the best deal.
I by mostly local, but for the weird stuff I order.
Surely there's a few good sources in Alberta.
Places like onlinemetals, mcmaster and so on are ok in a pinch or again weird stuff, but are far from the best deal.
Geez, I am still using the odd carbide insert that I bought there for like $6 a pound. They had great chunks and lumps of aluminum, and lots of stainless.
Good on 'em for keeping it going!
Cheers
Trev
