Just requested a price quote on bandsaw steel

[Modat22]

I'm afraid of what its gonna be......

Items with an * next to them need to be pretty close to ¼ inch thick or slightly less.

*(2)  3x3x1/4 sq tubing 8' long

(1) 3x3x1/8 sq tubing 5' long

(1) 3x5x 3/16 box tubing 8' long

*(1) 4" channel 9' long

(1) 4'x8' 16 awg sheet metal (if sheet comes in a standard size other than 4x8 let me know if its cheaper than paying for a cut)

(1) ½ steel plate approx 24x24 or 12x48 (whatever is easier)

(1) ¼ steel plate approx 24x48

*(2) 1x1x1/4 steel angle iron 20' long

(1) 3 ½ x 3 ½ x 3/16 box tubing 4' long

(1) 1x1x1/8 box tubing 6' long

(1) 2x2x1/4 box tubing 4' long

I also need a piece of ¼" box tubing that will slide over the 2x2x1/4 tubing 4 feet long.

I'm guessing its going to be around 700-800. Any bets?

[Fla._Deadheader]

We use a steel supply-fabricating shop. Lots of times, we buy ''drops''. That's left over pieces from other jobs. No place around to purchase ''by the pound'' ?? Scrap yards ??

[Modat22]

I have a few items from the local scrap place, I have a big problem finding good straight metal from there though.

I'll probably revise my list again and buy the best quality for rail angles, band head columns etc. I'd rather use the best I can get on the head though.

[highpockets]

I am not sure what kind of prices you can get on your country. As for North Louisiana (steel coming from Houston) we are seeing some decline in prices. I have a plasma cutter and use mostly 11 ga. Three years ago I could get it for $ 45.00 per sheet.  Some six months ago it was $ 86.00 per sheet.  Before the steel hike one could figure about $ 0.23 per lb. across the board.  That price went to some $ 0.45 per lb. at it's highest. 

I can give you and example of what happens when you want pieces shorter the the normal 20 ft stalk. In Shreveport someone ordered some  2 x 5 x 1/4 channel iron in some odd length. The steel supplier cut them and sold them for a given price.  I bought the 7 ft drops for $ 0.05 per lb.  What  I am trying to show is that they will hang you pretty good when they have to custom cut off a 20' piece.  I'd strongly suggest trying to revise your needs to better buy in lengths.

[ronwood]

I say it wil be higher than $700 to $800.

Ron

[jpad_mi]

The prices here in SE Michigan are quite a bit higher than in LA. Three years ago I was paying $.37/lb for new hot rolled in full lengths. Approx one year ago I had to pay $0.95/lb for HR drops. I bought a couple of HR drops this summer and I think it was around $0.65/lb. The cheapest I've seen is $0.20/lb at the scrap dealer. 

The places I have bought from charged around $10 per cut to cut to length.  Make sure you find out how they will cut it. If they torch cut or shear it you'll end up trimming an inch or so off to square it up.

www.onlinemetals.com is a good resource for looking up the weight per foot for the different shapes/sizes. They're also a great source for small bits of exotic material.

[leweee]

Your lucky your not in the "Great White North"


$.86[/color][/size]cents US/Ib

or $ 1.00Cdn/Ib for drops(shorter than 20' pieces) :

If your fabricating up here.....have a thick wallet.

[Gilman]

HighPants has a good point.  You'd be better off buying the full 20' lengths and getting a Harbor Freight bandsaw for $169.99 and cutting them yourself.

[etat]

I got REAL lucky a few years ago and was in the right place at the right time.  Bought a bunch of steel plate  including a bunch of 1/4 inch stainless (which is now my bar tops in my kitchen by the way), a bunch of assorted sizes and lengths of angle iron, a bunch of assorted lengths and diameters of square tubing, assorted steel rods up to two inches diameter, and a couple of beams from a welding shop that went out of business.  Also bought a jet metal cutting band saw and a great big shop fan.  Even got the rack to store the steel plate and the rack to store the angle and the tubing.  All for five hundred dollars.   


I've been whittling away on that stack of steel several years now and there's still quite a bit of it left.   

[Fred]

2.5" Sq. X 3/16"X 24' cost me $120.00
                                                 Fred

[Modat22]

Just recieved my quote this morning, I think I'm going to try the salvage yard today and see what I can get there. Here's the prices I got.


*(2)  3x3x1/4 sq tubing 8' long 215.04

(1) 3x3x1/8 sq tubing 5' long 36.30

(1) 3x5x 3/16 box tubing 8' long 117.02

*(1) 4" channel 9' long 44.27

(1) 4'x8' 16 awg sheet metal (if sheet comes in a standard size other than 4x8 let me know if its cheaper than paying for a cut)  110.76

(1) ½ steel plate approx 12x48 78.24

(1) ¼ steel plate approx 24x48  96.17

*(2) 1x1x1/4 steel angle iron 20' long  55.20

(1) 3 ½ x 3 ½ x 3/16 box tubing 4' long 48.96

(1) 1x1x1/8 box tubing 6' long 12.89

(1) 2x2x1/4 box tubing 4' long 33.00

I also need a piece of ¼" box tubing that will slide over the 2x2x1/4 tubing 4 feet long. 25.69


grand total from metal supermarket is. 873.54 cash. I'll call this guy back today and check on no cut options to see if its cheaper.

I'm already dumping the 4'x8' sheet metal that I was intending on using for the shield over my bandwheels, instead I'll be cutting the roof off of an old ford van for the metal. I know its not flat but I should be able to motivate it to work with the proper tool.

[Fla._Deadheader]

Check the measurements of the dia of your bandwheels. 55 Gallon drums are 22'' dia. Cut the bottom out of 2 of those.  ;) ;D

[Modat22]

Check the measurements of the dia of your bandwheels. 55 Gallon drums are 22'' dia. Cut the bottom out of 2 of those.  ;) ;D

Thats a good idea!

Thankyou.



I just recieved my quote from the scrap yard.

*3x3x1/4 sq tubing ether one 16' or longer or (2) at lease 9' long = 24 feet for 168.00 new

3x3x1/8 sq tubing at least 5' long used 15.00

* 4" channel at least 9' long used 15.00

*(2) 1x1x1/4 steel angle iron 20' long or longer new 20' pcs 36.00

3 ½ x 3 ½ x 3/16 box tubing at least 4' long new cut 48.00

1x1x1/8 box tubing at least 6' long new 24' 36.00


Looks like I'll be buying a little from both places, its weird how some stuff is cheaper or higher at both places.

Anyway this research chopped my cost down by at least 350.00 and I'll end up with a bit more metal for my pile.

[highpockets]

Modat
The square tubing that slides inside the other is pretty hard to find down here. Seems that some of these trailerhouse, etc folks but it. It is a special tubing as it doesn't have the seem inside.  Good luck

[Modat22]

Modat
The square tubing that slides inside the other is pretty hard to find down here. Seems that some of these trailerhouse, etc folks but it. It is a special tubing as it doesn't have the seem inside.  Good luck

I'm thining about making hand scraped gibs for the sliders, I've made slide surfaces in the past for an old metal lathe and its really not that hard. That way I can use a much larger slider piece and just shim it with hand flattened sliding surfaces.

I'll come up with something.

[Fla._Deadheader]

Our sawhead frame is solid tubing. meaning all welded, no slip fit. We used WM's approach and have 2 solid rods, 1'' thick, that slide through one end of the frame. Tighten tension with a 1/2'' bolt and go sawing. Very simple set-up and no hinge-swivel to mess with building.

[Modat22]

Our sawhead frame is solid tubing. meaning all welded, no slip fit. We used WM's approach and have 2 solid rods, 1'' thick, that slide through one end of the frame. Tighten tension with a 1/2'' bolt and go sawing. Very simple set-up and no hinge-swivel to mess with building.

I having trouble seeing that in my head, I'm gonna have a looksee at your gallery. I'm basically winging it on my design getting a couple ideas from the photo's I see and hoping I have the materials to build it.

Thanks for the tips.