Working with / Supply for 1/2" sheet for DIY grinders

[greenfeet]

I am in the process of making a grinder based on the GIB, but using my grizzly for some of it. i have about 1/2 the materials i need and now looking for the 1/2" plate for the body.

for my modified design, using the griz for some of it, i figure i need 3 sheets of 1/2"x12"x12" (excluding the base) for the body and platen. i am using 12"x12" because i am thinking i can work with this size to get the smaller pieces the design calls for…..first question: will a basic metal bandsaw cut the 1/2" plate well enough to feasibly cut it down to size, w/o going through 200$ in blades? id prefer to have it plasma cut or something, but again $$$ is the issue. reason is, i dont want to take a 150$ grizzly, add 500 with it to get a grinder, i could have probably saved the griz and made a whole new grinder for that much. i added up the costs and depending on how much the metal costs i should have a pretty good grinder for fairly cheap.

Of course i am cheap and trying to spend as little as possible. ive been calling fab places, supply shops etc. here in houston looking for the metal. the problem is most are large shops not willing or able to deal in such small pieces. does anyone know of a small supply place near the houston area that might work with what i need? the places ive spoke with have like a 500$ min to cut on plasma or the like.

i realize that polar bear forge sells the plate for like about 250$ but i am hoping i can get out of it for alot less.

thanks in advance.



i am able to use the motor (adding pulleys) , tensioner and wheel set up, i had bearings machined into the drive wheel providing a large wheel attachment. i will probably reuse the tool arm pieces for something (new rest), and can reuse the angled platen for the flat platen attachment. the rest has been / will be purchased from various sources. almost there.

 

[thebrain]

I cannot speak for where you live but here is you need plate steel or really anything you can go to the local scrap metal buyers and they almost always have a small area of "usables" they keep out of the shredder . I would try that route before buying for the full retail at a supply house or fab shop. Look around on the web and see what you can find for recycle/scrap centers and see if they have a shop or for sale area. I hope this helps.

 

[12345678910]

12"x12" x 1/2" will weigh about 20 pounds, so new steel about $ 20 plus some cutting fees

As mentioned you can get scrap for cheaper - if the lots allow that.



You can bandsaw cut that steel, don't be in a hurry.


I see you're in Texas, as long as their still drilling for oil there, I expect there will be lots of steel suppliers.

I just open the yellow pages under "steel"

I just call them all & ask for business hours of the sales pickup counter and pricing
call yourself a "cash customer" meaning no business account

If they don't stop you for being a cash customer, they take small orders.

The metal supermarkets has small pieces and dealing with the tinkering public is their bread and butter.
They ticked me off with poor service & I think prices are high too.
but they will likely still sell you what you need and they are open Saturday mornings.



Cash - no bill - no tax is still possible on this sort of thing - take $ with you


If you can get PERMISSION to look through an industrial scrap bin, have a try at it.
But no permission = jail time for theft here now.
Talk to some factory maintenance workers and give them a list.
many places will allow workers take home some scraps with permission slips too.

 

[David Sharp]

I know the steel yard (Patton Steel)I deal with has convenience sizes for people off the street. At the front door they have stacks of 1'Sq pieces of 3/16 up to 1/2". Call the large steel suppliers that also sell to the public and you might find something similar. Don't call a fabricator or machine shop; most of the time that's were it will get expensive.