Metals other than steel. And some steel...

Overmountain

Overmountain

Joined
May 2, 2013
Messages
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I am wondering who everyone prefers at the moment for metals other than steel. Specifically looking for good sheets and bars of copper in smaller amounts without getting killed on the shipping.
I also would like to know where to get thin sheets of carbon steel like Ariel uses for his copper/steel mokume.
Sorry if I'm searching wrong and this was asked previously... my googlefu isn't all that great. It seems like a lot of the places I am finding for copper and nickel silver will kill you on shipping for small amounts...
Thanks.
 
You could try a scrapyard. Look for old electrical equipment like service panels and splitters. Some have quite large buss bars in them and they will typically be copper. I personally picked up three buss bars for nothing and even though they have some holes in them there is a ton of good material. Each bar is over 1/4 thick, closer to 3/8 actually, 2.5 inches wide, and about 2 feet long.
 
I used to work in a fab shop that had all sorts of metals, it'd be a good try to see if any shops around your area will sell it to you. If they are like me and its small enough, it'll be a lot cheaper and possibly free. Or you can try mcmaster carr or other metal distributors in your area.
 
Thanks. The problem here is lack of basically anything... No metals distributors close by for small amounts of stuff, and the few fab shops there are deal in mostly various aluminum, mild steel and 6al-4v. Swimming in those at the moment... What I need is good clean high quality/purity copper, and thin thin sheets of high carbon steel. Ariel does his high carbon/mild/copper mokume with what amounts to 16ga 1084... I cannot find this anywhere... I am dying to try to make this for a personal project... I have had it work with mild steel and copper, but it doesn't react right when etched for that beautiful dark on copper appearance.
And the copper is the first thing picked at the scrap yard mostly by the employees. Some of whom have discovered they can sell it on ebay at a profit in their spare time. Its a shame too. For small stuff like spacers and accents I just cut up pipe and flatten it. The big busbars I have seen would be great for copper guards.
It seems most places I'm finding for copper are either too small a size/quantity or they ream you on shipping unless you buy a gargantuan amount.
Guess I'll just have to suck it up and fork over the moolah.

Any source for the ultra-thin high carbon steel would still be appreciated... : )
 
Onlinemetals and other e-sources are the most common suppliers of whatever you need in non-knife steel.
 
Thanks Stacy. Yeah, that's where I'm probay gonna go. Just didn't want to cough up their shipping for the small amount I need ATM. May order more to save in the long run. The shipping right now for what I need nearly doubles my order $$...
 
Storm copper for sheet copper, they are the manufacturer. Small quantities Metallifferous.com

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You might look at copper flashing like for roofing. Jess
 
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