FH Brundle & 7.5 metre lengths

[Dr.Al]

I need to order some box section (and one bit of 2 mm sheet). In the past I've generally used companies like themetalstore, which is convenient and they chop the steel up into nice easy-to-handle (or cut to size for a project) bits as part of the price.

FH Brundle seem a lot cheaper and I've heard a few people on this forum say they use them, so I was wondering about ordering from them, but the cheaper prices (per metre) are for 7.5 metre lengths. That feels a bit daunting to handle on my own!

What's the delivery service like? Do they help you get the bits of the lorry or are they all wrapped up together expecting a fork-lift truck? Once I've got them up my lane and into my back garden, I should be able chop them up into more manageable sections quite easily, but getting them there doesn't seem easy.

Similar question about sheets... the smallest sheet of 2 mm steel they sell will weigh 33 kg and moving something that big that weighs that much on my own doesn't feel very practical.

 

[Screwdriver]

Last time I ordered some, they dumped the lot in my front garden. Easy enough to pick apart (plastic banded iirc) then chop in half or agonise for weeks over the most efficient length(s) to stock up with.

Delivery is cheap and quick so I would expect the t&c will say something like "drop at curb". If your curb is half a mile down a lane from the house, that's a nice problem to have.

 

[Agroshield]

Similar question about sheets... the smallest sheet of 2 mm steel they sell will weigh 33 kg...

Something like this is good for the sheets. Assess terrain and pick suitable type of tyre. Assess sheet floppiness and supplement with 9 or 12mm plywood if necessary.

https://www.ajproducts.co.uk/wareho...olley/29850655-19435769.wf?productId=19435759

This type of suction lifter is good for sheet material as long as it is smooth enough. Put it low enough on the sheet such that your arm is straight, just like carrying a shopping bag:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Xpert-Vacuum-Glass-Lifter-Pack/dp/B07N48M551

 

[Nick DV]

They offer a cutting service at my local one as long as it's to cut a length in two or a sheet in half or at a size you require. Depends how many cuts you want as to whether they do them or not. I think the delivery is about £10

 

[Screwdriver]

For solo handling of full sheets I bend a handy length of rebar into a sort of W shape. The two ends are only a few inches, the middle gets a flat to form the handle. Hook it under the bottom edge and steady the top with your spare arm. To stop a thin sheet from bowing, drop a plank or batten in the bottom first so that it wedges against the material.

 

[slimjim]

I use one of these to carry sheet material,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYZACK-d...937973?hash=item4daf06c3f5:g:AngAAOSwLIZeUsrL

 

[Dr.Al]

They offer a cutting service at my local one as long as it's to cut a length in two or a sheet in half or at a size you require. Depends how many cuts you want as to whether they do them or not. I think the delivery is about £10

Interesting to know about the cutting service. If they could cut the sheet in half then that would be perfect. Paying a bit more to get the 7.5 m lengths chopped up seems like money well spent!

I'll drop them an email and see what they say. I couldn't quite work out whether they'll deliver to me anyway as their delivery page is a bit vague ("Any deliveries outside of our delivery areas will be charged at cost"; okay, but where are your delivery areas?)

I use one of these to carry sheet material,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYZACK-d...937973?hash=item4daf06c3f5:g:AngAAOSwLIZeUsrL

I made something similar to that for handling sheets of plywood. It works well, but the weight of a full sheet of 2 mm steel makes it slightly less practical.

 

[Screwdriver]

I made something similar to that for handling sheets of plywood. It works well, but the weight of a full sheet of 2 mm steel makes it slightly less practical.

For heavy sheets, I stick a couple of crude wheels on a plank and use the W bracket as above. When I say crude, I mean you can literally nail a couple of circles to a plank.

<edit> I should explain my expertise in this area in case @outofthefire is watching: I live alone, I generally handle everything solo (Bridegport, Colchester, flypress, LOTS of sheet material) and it ALL has to make it down a narrow rough path to the garages.

 

[Nick DV]

I'll drop them an email and see what they say.

When I first tried to contact them, I emailed and never heard a thing! I called the local branch and spoke to a really helpful young lady who sorted me out - metal supply that is

 

[chunkolini]

After years of wrestling with whole sheets steel I have never thought of a handling device.
How stupid!
First job today is a simple handling device.
Lets see what I come up with

 

[Screwdriver]

When I first tried to contact them, I emailed and never heard a thing! I called the local branch and spoke to a really helpful young lady who sorted me out - metal supply that is

Ah, the lovely Lyn. I ordered up 20 odd m of box section. Delivered next day in 3.7m lengths (iirc). Awesome job off to the shed to make up some shelving.

Couple of days later I get an angry call from some bloke saying "You weren't in, I've left the metal in the garden". He had too!

So. Option 1. keep schtum and have a bit of free stock or 2. ring up and sort it out.

So I rang up and spoke to Lyn, convinced I just have to say "do me a deal" and I get some cheap extras. She said she'd ask. No no. He wants to come and pick it up. We haggle for a bit and I remind her it's been dumped in my garden, left overnight in the rain, are you sure you want to drive into London to recover it and not just do me a deal...

<pause>

They did me a deal.

 

[willie.macleod]

Glasgow FH Brundle branch certainly cut material down, as a pricing example I had 7 off 50x50x5 equal angle cut in half last month and they charged £6. Listed as "3 small saw cuts", so either they were stacking them or they aren't too fussed about charging for them.

For thin sheets I also use a plasterboard/sheet carrier. Bigger ones need a trolley/more people/plasma.

 

[Seadog]

They charge £1 per cut.

 

[Brad93]

I need to order some box section (and one bit of 2 mm sheet). In the past I've generally used companies like themetalstore, which is convenient and they chop the steel up into nice easy-to-handle (or cut to size for a project) bits as part of the price.

FH Brundle seem a lot cheaper and I've heard a few people on this forum say they use them, so I was wondering about ordering from them, but the cheaper prices (per metre) are for 7.5 metre lengths. That feels a bit daunting to handle on my own!

What's the delivery service like? Do they help you get the bits of the lorry or are they all wrapped up together expecting a fork-lift truck? Once I've got them up my lane and into my back garden, I should be able chop them up into more manageable sections quite easily, but getting them there doesn't seem easy.

Similar question about sheets... the smallest sheet of 2 mm steel they sell will weigh 33 kg and moving something that big that weighs that much on my own doesn't feel very practical.

They are happy to handball it onto the grass verge if it’s not a heavy section. Forklift for anything heavy. 2mm will be on a pallet.

 

[Munkul]

We would usually order in 7.5m lengths and get them to cut down to suit, usually 6m lengths with the offcuts included. Thomas Graham or Franklin Steel.

 

[Chillitt]

Last delivery I had was a complete shambles. They tried really hard and got stuff sent from all over, some on their lorry, some via Tufnells and everything that could go wrong, did. But they sorted it all out in the end and I wont be going anywhere else for steel. The drivers always help unload and carry it in, but I get the feeling they wont carry it any further than they have to. Without fail they take the mickey out of my sheet mover, but it works a treat. a G clamp makes a sheet much easier to control.

 

[Nick DV]

Ah, the lovely Lyn.

Is that her name?

 

[rtcosic]

Our local steel stockist is a branch of Ellis Steel.
I got the following quote on 4 November for workbench and shelving components. Delivered to the end of the drive.

I asked for:
50x50x3 (or next thicker if cheaper stock item)
90cm - 4 off
60cm - 2 off
150cm - 2 off

20x20x2 (or next thicker if cheaper stock item)
50cm - 35 off
30cm - 21 off
30cm @ 45deg both ends - 21 off
230cm - 10 off

I was quoted:
The price for the SHS cut to length as per your email is £210.85+VAT.

If my sums are right that's:
7.8 m of 50*50 and 7 cuts
48.1 m of 20*20 and 86 cuts

That's a 'retail, walk-up, don't know you from Adam' price. I don't know if that's good, bad or indifferent but it's convenient and saves me a LOT of cutting and solves any storage problem all at the same time!

 

[jimbo84]

Used FH brundles quite a bit. The drivers are always happy to help and handball the lengths down the drive with me.

They're usually wrapped together in that clingfilm type packing, one on each end and a couple down the middle. Just knife them on the wagon and lift off individually.

Haven't ordered sheet from them though only ever lengths, biggest being 50x25x3 @ 7.5m, easy enough to carry on your own.

 

[highseas]

i cany remember the last time i got long steel from brundles but they have always been good to deal with and i normaly twist my local steel supplier to match (thomas graghams) their prices for anything and seeing as thou ime spending £1000+ a month with them they normaly do better than that. plust their only 500m from the workshop