When I got started learning how to weld I realized I didn't have any suitable material to use for practice. Tractor Supply had some but the prices were outrageous. I bit the bullet for a small piece but whew, never again. I don't know if these stores are all over the country but we have a Habitat for Humanity store and they take scraps/donations from people building things or just getting rid of stuff. I haven't been in a while but I imagine they might have something suitable for a hobbyist from time to time. Thanks for all the suggestions.
For light duty angle and square tubing, I've had success with motorcycle and atv dealers. Many of those vehicles are shipped in metal creates. Some will let you take the crates free or very cheap. Never hurts to ask
Hey Derek, thanks for the shout out. I been really busy lately. I just did small grill but no video. I recently moved out of my apartment and I don't have the little shop no more. I do my welding outdoors now. But, I'll do update video of that. But thanks and enjoy.
Watch for any business announcing that they're going out of business. You'd be surprised what materials they've acquired over the years. I got a couple hundred pounds of square 1x1 tubing from a Saks on 5th closing. For $20. I've used it for adapting a lot of my metalworking machinery to fit on those DeWalt table saw stands, for portable use. Game changer.
I pick up what I call Grandpa Tins at yard sales. These are jars, cake tins etc of weird things, washers, screws etc that someone saved for years. Cool little gems in those. I don't pay more than a few bucks for them.
Really? I heard another more prominent metal working RUclipsr say the angle iron from bed frames was harder than regular angle iron. I don’t know if there is any truth to that but seemed plausible.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects bed frames are harder and to some extent brittle. It cuts with abrasive blades but will wipe out drill bits and saw blades.
I am lucky that I have 2 steel suppliers within 90 minutes that sell new and cut pieces of various lengths/sizes per lb.. I also do garage sales but don't rely on it for metal but this last summer scored on over 50 ft of rectangular tube 5x2x1/8 for 60 dollars; it was used as industrial pallet shelving.. a little rusty but still good.
Another possibility, if you have a way to haul 'em, might be wood stoves and fire place inserts. Keep looking on C List, offerup, etc. Very often someone is hoping to unload an old stove for very little or free for the taking. Most of these are welded plate steel, just about perfect for all kinds of projects. Of course you'll have to have a way to haul one home and then a way to cut it up. Gonna need some strong friends to help and probably a cutting torch to get it down to size. Good luck.
People in the neighborhoods put out bed frames and lots of junk with steel in them for pickup for free they want to get rid of. Driving around in those neighborhoods is a pretty good place to get some scrap steel.
id like to find a nice you pick yard near me, just fyi home depot will prosecute anyone who goes in their garbage. They are one of the stores that have crazy policies for that.
I use the same gloves..., just getting started and this was helpful. I just usually work with what i have leftover which isnt much so i need to hit a few of theese spots! Thank you good sir
Ok, there are 2 other places I have found steel. Auctions. I find that I'm competing with guys buying pennies on the dollar to sell as scrap. You can buy whole implements with great angle, bar, box, etc for less than scrap price. Piles of sheet...and while you're at it, you may find a vintage aluminum 9N dash or hood that some sorry arse would have sold as aluminum that's actually worth hundreds. Speaking of the guys who are resellers of steel...there are guys who are picking from farms and such...scrappers. I find them listing on marketplace asking to "clean up" properties, aka, make a buck off your stuff lol. Well, it costs fuel and muscle to get that to the yard. I find you can ask to pick their stuff and come away with some good stuff. Simply pay just a little better than scrap and don't make a mess of it. If you buy enough at a better price, they make more money...you save more money. Lastly, advertise to do the same. Cities folk are begging, listing, and curbing a crazy amount of steel. I kinda wish I were closer because I'd never have to cut firewood again. It's unreal.
Hey, do you have any ideas for projects to make with T-rail? I get pretty much unlimited supply of it for free from our garage door business taking down garage door openers. But i just don't know what to do with it
I built a gate 18x5 out of all of the t rail we had. Used #7 jamb brackets welded on and added 2x4 top and bottom with 1/4" carriage bolts and the we added sheet metal ,6' long to give us privacy. We use lots of garage door stuff. Our truck rack is made with 3" track. The frame for the floor of our 9x6 deer stand is 3" track. Commerial op rail,built a welding cart and on and on!
😂😂 that’s what you pulled out of that? I’m making this for a world audience man. I said this guy goes to New Mexico to flea markets to buy steel and then later said “in the us we have flea markets”. Thanks for finding the silliest thing in the whole video to criticize me for 😂😂. Not sure how you got that from what I said but alright buddy. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Any other good place to pick up cheap or free metal for projects? Leave a comment below.
When I got started learning how to weld I realized I didn't have any suitable material to use for practice. Tractor Supply had some but the prices were outrageous. I bit the bullet for a small piece but whew, never again. I don't know if these stores are all over the country but we have a Habitat for Humanity store and they take scraps/donations from people building things or just getting rid of stuff. I haven't been in a while but I imagine they might have something suitable for a hobbyist from time to time. Thanks for all the suggestions.
For light duty angle and square tubing, I've had success with motorcycle and atv dealers. Many of those vehicles are shipped in metal creates. Some will let you take the crates free or very cheap. Never hurts to ask
Ya I’ve heard of other people doing that in the past. I ought to try it sometime.
lol
Is this still an option? I’m a newbie just starting out and need pieces of scrap to start practicing on
Hey Derek, thanks for the shout out. I been really busy lately. I just did small grill but no video. I recently moved out of my apartment and I don't have the little shop no more. I do my welding outdoors now. But, I'll do update video of that. But thanks and enjoy.
Watch for any business announcing that they're going out of business. You'd be surprised what materials they've acquired over the years. I got a couple hundred pounds of square 1x1 tubing from a Saks on 5th closing. For $20. I've used it for adapting a lot of my metalworking machinery to fit on those DeWalt table saw stands, for portable use. Game changer.
I pick up what I call Grandpa Tins at yard sales.
These are jars, cake tins etc of weird things, washers, screws etc that someone saved for years. Cool little gems in those. I don't pay more than a few bucks for them.
Bed frames off craigslist. Nice good long pieces of angle iron that you can get for free usually!
I came here to say this. Craigslist and Facebook marketplace often has free bed frames.
Bedframes work, it's bologna metal though
Really? I heard another more prominent metal working RUclipsr say the angle iron from bed frames was harder than regular angle iron. I don’t know if there is any truth to that but seemed plausible.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects bed frames are harder and to some extent brittle. It cuts with abrasive blades but will wipe out drill bits and saw blades.
And it dont hold welds well thats why they come with rivots
I am lucky that I have 2 steel suppliers within 90 minutes that sell new and cut pieces of various lengths/sizes per lb.. I also do garage sales but don't rely on it for metal but this last summer scored on over 50 ft of rectangular tube 5x2x1/8 for 60 dollars; it was used as industrial pallet shelving.. a little rusty but still good.
Another possibility, if you have a way to haul 'em, might be wood stoves and fire place inserts. Keep looking on C List, offerup, etc. Very often someone is hoping to unload an old stove for very little or free for the taking. Most of these are welded plate steel, just about perfect for all kinds of projects. Of course you'll have to have a way to haul one home and then a way to cut it up. Gonna need some strong friends to help and probably a cutting torch to get it down to size. Good luck.
People in the neighborhoods put out bed frames and lots of junk with steel in them for pickup for free they want to get rid of. Driving around in those neighborhoods is a pretty good place to get some scrap steel.
This is a regular one I hear about! Good suggestion.
id like to find a nice you pick yard near me, just fyi home depot will prosecute anyone who goes in their garbage. They are one of the stores that have crazy policies for that.
I use the same gloves..., just getting started and this was helpful. I just usually work with what i have leftover which isnt much so i need to hit a few of theese spots! Thank you good sir
Ok, there are 2 other places I have found steel. Auctions. I find that I'm competing with guys buying pennies on the dollar to sell as scrap. You can buy whole implements with great angle, bar, box, etc for less than scrap price. Piles of sheet...and while you're at it, you may find a vintage aluminum 9N dash or hood that some sorry arse would have sold as aluminum that's actually worth hundreds. Speaking of the guys who are resellers of steel...there are guys who are picking from farms and such...scrappers. I find them listing on marketplace asking to "clean up" properties, aka, make a buck off your stuff lol. Well, it costs fuel and muscle to get that to the yard. I find you can ask to pick their stuff and come away with some good stuff. Simply pay just a little better than scrap and don't make a mess of it. If you buy enough at a better price, they make more money...you save more money. Lastly, advertise to do the same. Cities folk are begging, listing, and curbing a crazy amount of steel. I kinda wish I were closer because I'd never have to cut firewood again. It's unreal.
If you close your eyes…. You would swear Joe Rogan is talking 😂
Unfortunately our local metal recycler won't sell to individuals.
😅 big construction sites.. G.C. Throw away steel all the time... tons 😮
Hey, do you have any ideas for projects to make with T-rail? I get pretty much unlimited supply of it for free from our garage door business taking down garage door openers. But i just don't know what to do with it
I built a gate 18x5 out of all of the t rail we had. Used #7 jamb brackets welded on and added 2x4 top and bottom with 1/4" carriage bolts and the we added sheet metal ,6' long to give us privacy.
We use lots of garage door stuff.
Our truck rack is made with 3" track.
The frame for the floor of our 9x6 deer stand is 3" track.
Commerial op rail,built a welding cart and on and on!
Online Metals, Home Depot, and Lowes are rediculously over priced. Especially Online Metals.
Stainless sheet metal from BBQ grills
I’ve never thought of that. Of course I’ve never welded stainless, but that’s a good idea.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🙏
thanks
Steal is .30 cents a pound here
I think steal is free
😂
@@hjsn1 until you get caught.
You do realize that New Mexico is a part of the U.S. right? It’s that giant piece of land separating Texas and Arizona, south of Colorado……
😂😂 that’s what you pulled out of that? I’m making this for a world audience man. I said this guy goes to New Mexico to flea markets to buy steel and then later said “in the us we have flea markets”. Thanks for finding the silliest thing in the whole video to criticize me for 😂😂. Not sure how you got that from what I said but alright buddy. Thanks for the enlightenment.