Steel

Walt2

Walt2

Joined
Mar 13, 2001
Messages
1,157
I had been ordering precision ground steel from Flat Ground and when I received my last order from them, they referred me to a place called The Steel Store in Tuscumbia, Al, saying that they could handle small orders better there. I have found out that there is a great price difference between what Flat Ground shows on their website and what The Steel Store charges, little over double in price for the same thing, I am comparing A2. Next time, whenever that is, I will be looking for better prices elsewhere.
 
Sadly,it is the price of business that small lot suppliers are more expensive than bulk suppliers.It just plain costs more to process twenty 3' orders than it does to process one 50' order.Many industrial suppliers will not sell to one man shops or hobbyists,anymore.
Some solutions are:Purchasing steel in minimum lots,and getting together with other makers to have a larger order will bring down prices.Most suppliers will cut your steel up into manageable lengths for free.

All this brings back a great memory (one that you,at 68, will be able to remember). As a boy I was building some electrical project that called for a 20penny nail.I went down to the building supply company that was not far from my home.Wandered around all those bins and stacks of material and found the fasteners. In those days they were all in big metal bins with a scale hanging nearby. There were bags and boxes to put them in after YOU weighed them. I got my nail and went to the "city counter". I gave it to the clerk and he asked how many pounds I was getting.I said just one nail. He looked at me and broke out laughing.Said ,"Take the nail kid,we only sell in ten pound lots."
The days of a free nail and the honor system of filling your order are long gone,I am sad to say.
Stacy
 
I am not familiar with job shop costs to precision grind steel, just know that it costs quite a bit more when ordering steel to get it. I am working on some projects where I need it so I found a used manual operated Rockwell/Delta surface grinder for $650.00 and have the flexibility to do what I want when I want. I think/hope it will pay for itself. Might be an option for you as well.
 
I had seen a price of $10 additional for precision ground on a 1/8" x 11/2" x 36" piece before. I don't know if that was standard price or not.
 
Have been away from home for a couple of days. Stacy, I do remember those days that you refer to. In some ways those were the good days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top