General stock list

[londonsean69]

Unfortunately, Christmas is coming. So, rather than submit myself to more repeats, I am going to be cracking on with a few little projects in the garage.

I would like to have on hand a fairly good range of mild steel, for those little projects that pop up. If the material is to hand, the project gets done, otherwise they tend to fall by the wayside if you have to order and wait for steel.

So, what sort of steel stock do people keep knocking around?

I'm thinking a length (6 or 7.5m) of each of the following (maybe 2 of the popular stuff)

RHS
25x50x3

SHS
25x25x3
50x50x3

CHS
25x3

Flat
50x5
30x5
25x3
12x2

Angle
50x50x5
50x50x3
25x25x3

plate
3mm
5mm

round
10mm
16mm

If I have a specific project in mind I will buy the steel for that as and when, this is for those 'little jobs' that crop up.

Anything missing, or anything you wouldn't bother with? I am going for fairly thick walled stuff as I want it to last, and there is no need for lightweight on any of the stuff I have in mind.

This is for general fab type stuff, tool stands, brackets etc.

Cheers

Sean

 

[aero]

That's an impressive stock holding. Are you running a fabrication shop?

I tend to buy for a specific job, but always end up with way too much metal kicking about, so make two of what ever and sell one. I the last thing I made was a welding jig for motorcycle frames. Sold the second one on ebay for £50 more then the cost of all the metal.

Normally I just keep good stuff I've scavenged on hand (semi friendly local steel yard with a nice scrap skip nearby), the rest as I say I order for each job.

 

[londonsean69]

That's an impressive stock holding. Are you running a fabrication shop?

I wish. I'm a CAD monkey and work in an office.

Actually, it's more about having a variety of stuff, and it is much more economical to buy it in full lengths, and to buy a load all at the same time so the delivery is in proportion to what I am buying.

I think, in total, my order (more than what is there - but not including the plate) is going to be around the £250 mark, delivered, so should keep me off the streets for a while.

Have been working on a few plans at work (more like rough sketches - I do CAD full time and it's quiet here) and I am actually going to be ordering a bit more than this!!
It's gonna be busy in my garage this christmas

Sean

 

[wyn]

That looks like a good comprehensive list.....should cover a lot of stuff.

What sort of quantity of each are you getting ? I find if i'm knocking up some sort of frame out of, say, 50 x 50 angle 6m does'nt go very far at all.

 

[aero]

Just like beer......

 

[wyn]

Just like beer......

 

[londonsean69]

Most of the stuff will just be one length (6m or 7.5m - suppliers lengths).

However, on the 50x50x3 angle there will be a few lengths (basis of the bike lift table).

Basically, (in keeping with my hatred of christmas) I'm getting a selection box of steel, and will suck it and see to work out what I am/am not using.

For projects, I will order stuff in, but what I may do so I get the best economies of scale, is work out what I will need for all the planned projects over the next few months, then just buy the lot.

It's a total pi55er when you run out of gas/wire/steel in the middle of a job.

So i'm going the whole hog, and will be ordering a couple of 5kg reels each of 0.6 and 0,8, plus I am getting 30l of Air Products Cougar (CO2/Ar).

The new portamig is going to get a proper test over Christmas and the new year.

Oh, and I've just ordered an Evolution Rage2 chopsaw


Slightly off topic, when you guys (and girls) do security bars for windows, do you use hollow tube or round bar for the bars?
At the moment I have SHS frames, with tubes in the middle (they are more of a visual deterrent), would I be better off with solid round bar in the middle?
And what sort of sizes are you going for?

The opening is 600x600, and I currently have 25x25x2 frames, with 16x2 tubes as infills at 100 c/c.

I'm thinking of beefing the whole lot up and going for 30x30x3 frames with a 12 solid round bar.

The window grilles will be the first project, as I already have some up so there is no rush, and are a nice, simple safe project to learn the new welder on

Cheers

Sean

 

[English Steve]

Agree with beefing up the frame Sean, but the 16mm tube will look stronger than the 12mm bar and once it's up nobody will know .

 

[aero]

I was talking to a mate who has a unit (full of stainless and ally stock) and I'd make sure that the attatchments are damn strong as the local scum have taken to using a 4X4 to either push bars off the wall from outside or pull them off depending which way round they are fixed.

He caught them trying to get a hook under his roller door the otherday, Range Rover and a solid tow bar and a 3.5t box wagon on standby, all ready to go. Said they were looking for a dog!

 

[londonsean69]

Thankfully, they are on the garden side, facing the house.

Weakest point is the roof, I caught some little sh1t in the garage, piles of corrugated sheet around him on the floor.

Cheeky chav said he was looking for a ball.

I threw him out (although he 'tripped' on the way out).

I then went in to survey the damage.......and found a ball in the garden

 

[bill_gj]

If he was a proper Chav he'll have nicked that ball anyway.

 

[londonsean69]

If he was a proper Chav he'll have nicked that ball anyway.

From a charity probably

Well, he did have a hoody.

Then again, I weld in a hoody (it's warmer and stops bits going down your back)

 

[English Steve]

Then again, I weld in a hoody (it's warmer and stops bits going down your back)

Wow, a chav welder ... gonna put loadsa of bling on the Portamig innit.

 

[londonsean69]

Wow, a chav welder ... gonna put loadsa of bling on the Portamig innit.

Neons inside the case 'would' look sweet

Actually, I'm going for a grandpa style awning on the portamig, somewhere to hang the grinders, safety kit etc. and keep a few tips.

Will draw something up tonight and get it posted in the projects section.

It will be designed as a 'bolt on' mod (typical chav) as I don't want to start hacking about a brand new portamig.

Sean

 

[madkayaker]

The neon's could be classed as a safety feature if they illuminated when you turned it on. (That's my excuse any way)

 

[knoba]

I agree about running out of tools /materials. It usually happens, right in the middle of job, on a, sunny, Saturday afternoon (...so now I'm left kicking my heals)! Sunday the suppliers are still shut (...biting everyone else's nail's)! Monday - "we'll have to order it in sir" (...totally fed up), and by the time it actually arrives... it's raining for most of that week ("...I am happy!").

In an attempt to avoid looking and feeling like a divot; I tend to stock all these items in 3m lengths of mild steel;
f/s:
25mm x 3mm
25mm x 6mm
50mm x 3mm
50mm x 6mm
100mm x 3mm
100mm x 6mm

e/a:
25mm x 3mm
25mm x 6mm
50mm x 6mm
75mm x 6mm

r/h/s;
32mm x 3mm

When I'm ordering stainless stock, I usually, get an extra length in each section size, as well as, topping up any mild steel stock that I've used, so that I always have materials in.

Consumables are in the same boat as far as I'm concerned; fillers, abrasives, polishes, tips, tungstens, blades, etc.

If a tool breaks or wears - it is replaced for an item of better quality.

 

[aero]

where do you guys live?

...I know where to come on a Sunday if I run out

 

[knoba]

...everywhere!

 

[engybenjy]

Corrr!! I wish i had somewhere to keep that amount of stock!!! The things I'd be making.........

 

[londonsean69]

Corrr!! I wish i had somewhere to keep that amount of stock!!! The things I'd be making.........

Well, the overall size of the garage is 6x5m, so max length I can store is 4m, for ease of handling. (Plus there is the usual assortment of lawnmowers, tumble dryer, extra freezer etc.)

So, when I get my delivery, everything will be cut in half, as I can't ever see me needing more than a 3m length in 1 go. Then I need to weld up some biggish brackets to use for storage up on the wall

Sean