Metal Suppliers?

[Davi]

Anyone know of any decent metal suppliers that will supply in small quantities?

I'm looking for some ally I beam, square tube and a shed load of stainless tubing.

Just spoken to possibly the rudest person I've ever encountered at my usual suppliers so decided to talk with my feet!

Edit - forgot to say preferably in the south around southampton area.

>> Edited by Davi on Wednesday 1st March 14:48

[Sam_68]

How about these guys?

[Davi]

LOL - they are the ones I've just got off the phone to. The bloke was so rude I was to shocked to make comment before the line went dead.

[hal 1]

Aren't there any local trade suppliers that you can approach ?
I've found in the past that just calling in to these places gets me what I'm looking for, they're usually very friendly folk who show some interest when you say what its for, plus they sometimes have skips for offcuts that can be useful for very small amounts and have sold me more or less any amount I've wanted for other bits,
after all I'm sure they wont object to a bit of cash coming their way,

Dont be too misled by people who tell say that you'll have to buy a minimum amount, this will probably only happen if you want something with an unusual size for instance.

[Davi]

Good point, haven't done that for a while, I'll give it a try later!

[tribbles]

I've just ordered some 5m lengths of 57mm, 16mm ally tube, and a 2.5mx1.5m 1.5mm thick sheet from MG Metals in Eastleigh (www.mgmetals.co.uk - 023 8025 5566).

They delivered to Guildford in 3 days (I wasn't too worried about how long it took - but they do do same/next day if you need it), and cut the sheet in two for me.

I didn't try to get smaller than that (I normally find that it's cheaper to buy standard lengths - although I do have about 3.5m of the 57mm tube left ).

[Davi]

thanks tribbles - drive past eastleigh most days so that could be handy.

[robcollingridge]

Try your local aluminium fabricators or steel fabricators for off-cuts. I got all the stuff I needed for my Fury R1 for pennies.

Rob
www.robcollingridge.com/kitcar

[RushV8]

Suggest you try some of the many Boat Builders in the area : worth asking if you can by offcuts from them(they only get ~ £70 - 100 per tonne ! scrap price from the scrappies , so would be glad to sell them at cost). Boat builders should be able to supply off-cuts of sheet, plate or tubular stainless steel or aluminium since they use all these regularly, but perhaps not I section Ally beam. PS now I live in Steel city (Sheffield) so have no problem with suppliers, but when I lived near Fareham (Stubbington) I had to beg from boat builders for my bits and pieces of metal for car projects.

[stainless_steve]

Davi said:

Anyone know of any decent metal suppliers that will supply in small quantities? I'm looking for some ally I beam, square tube and a shed load of stainless tubing. Just spoken to possibly the rudest person I've ever encountered at my usual suppliers so decided to talk with my feet! Edit - forgot to say preferably in the south around southampton area. >> Edited by Davi on Wednesday 1st March 14:48

If you are buying stainless get it bought quick ,the price is going up all the time,also there is going to be a shortage soon.

[thegreenhell]

I've always bought my non-ferrous metal stock for work from Aalco, and they have a branch in Soton. Not sure what they're like for small quantities, though.

www.aalco.co.uk

[Davi]

thanks for the further idea's, will be onto them. narrowing down the search!

>> Edited by Davi on Friday 10th March 11:38