Not cheap steel

[pressbrake1]

Saw this add on eBay, I was drawn in by the title

They want £100 for a scabby 200mm length of 100mm en8
Aceenta have just quoted £350 for 3200mm
Of 100mm en8 which isn’t the en8 of old

Reminds me of the only time I went to the model engineering exhibition in London and the bent up bar ends were being sold for more than a metre would cost

Beware the eBay sellers and find a friendly machine shop or just phone a stock holder

 

[Smouser]

I also saw them when I wanted 165mm diameter en8 discs (for gears). Extremely expensive.

Luckily a forum member recommended a supplier that was much cheaper (no online ordering, either email or phone).

 

[jgr2015]

A few years back I was looking for a bit of steel and I didn't have a source locally at the time. I was glad to be able to buy from this very seller. The item got lost somewhere along the way and the seller immediately sent on a replacement. A week or so later, the courier turned up with the original item. I let the seller know and he told me to hang on to it, no extra charge.

 

[m_c]

eBay sellers are generally expensive, but if you're only needing a short length for a one off job, it's usually the easiest and most cost effective option.

 

[Fastdruid]

eBay sellers are generally expensive, but if you're only needing a short length for a one off job, it's usually the easiest and most cost effective option.

Exactly this. Yes, it's massively expensive... but if I only ever want 20cm then it's cheaper to spend the £100 than spend an extra £250 and have 3m cluttering up the place.

... which incidentally is why I have a whole load of odds and ends cluttering up the place!

 

[MetalMonkey]

I think what you are really paying for is somebody that is prepared to sell a small quantity and ship it.
Most hobbyists can't really handle or store 3m or 7.2m lengths of steel. A lot of the stockholders are not interested in selling small quantities and they charge through the nose for it if they do.
Unless you have one on your doorstop or the means to collect long lengths the delivery charge kills it anyway.

My local steel stockholder is substantially more expensive than just buying it from brundles.

 

[maroon]

I've got a steel stockist like 2 mins walking distance from me. it's not the cheapest but once you factor in delivery costs. I wouldn't like to think how much 8ft x 3ft of 20 gauge would cost to get delivered.
40 quid over the counter purchase. No waiting around for deliverys.

 

[hotponyshoes]

You can't really compare the price for 200mm to 3200mm though can you.
A fairer comparison would be to get a quote from Aceenta for 200mm.

 

[Brad93]

350mm length of 135mm diameter EN16 cost £85+VAT from accenta last year

 

[Smouser]

These guys sell small pieces of steel (by the inch).

M-Machine Metals, Engineering and Fabrication.

They have a 'rough' price list on their website which gives you an idea of cost.

When you order/ask for a quote they give you the up to date price on what you want to order.

I have only used them once, but the service was good and much cheaper than ebay.

Anybody got other suppliers that sell small pieces of steel I should also look at?

 

[pressbrake1]

You can't really compare the price for 200mm to 3200mm though can you.
A fairer comparison would be to get a quote from Aceenta for 200mm.

Aceenta will sell small bits

 

[pressbrake1]

I think what you are really paying for is somebody that is prepared to sell a small quantity and ship it.
Most hobbyists can't really handle or store 3m or 7.2m lengths of steel. A lot of the stockholders are not interested in selling small quantities and they charge through the nose for it if they do.
Unless you have one on your doorstop or the means to collect long lengths the delivery charge kills it anyway.

My local steel stockholder is substantially more

eBay sellers are generally expensive, but if you're only needing a short length for a one off job, it's usually the easiest and most cost effective option.

Just phone up stock holder

These lot have got hold of bar ends which are normally cut off as scrap and taking advantage of hobbyists and a terribly misleading title

 

[pressbrake1]

These guys sell small pieces of steel (by the inch).

M-Machine Metals, Engineering and Fabrication.

They have a 'rough' price list on their website which gives you an idea of cost.

When you order/ask for a quote they give you the up to date price on what you want to order.

I have only used them once, but the service was good and much cheaper than ebay.

Anybody got other suppliers that sell small pieces of steel I should also look at?

Very good prices

 

[pressbrake1]

A few years back I was looking for a bit of steel and I didn't have a source locally at the time. I was glad to be able to buy from this very seller. The item got lost somewhere along the way and the seller immediately sent on a replacement. A week or so later, the courier turned up with the original item. I let the seller know and he told me to hang on to it, no extra charge.

At his prices sending a replacement doesn’t hurt

 

[bourbon]

Horses for courses really. I can get my steel from Metal supermarket, not the cheapest I know. Maximum length I've got off them was 16 metres 30x30x3 angle. I went and fetched it from West Bromwich. Factor in the cost of my fuel and an hours driving each way. If I only want a metre. It's cheaper to go to B£Q!!

 

[h-dom]

I've bought from him before, 1m at a time, £60 for 1m of 50mm dia en19 delivered.

Thought it wasn't too bad. If I can get it cheaper from one of the above then I will do, happy to buy lengths if it works out cheaper overall.

 

[mtt.tr]

I agree with @pressbrake1 call up your stock holder or machine shop

Even the stingy ones can be swayed by money and it will cost less than eBay

 

[maroon]

Horses for courses really. I can get my steel from Metal supermarket, not the cheapest I know. Maximum length I've got off them was 16 metres 30x30x3 angle. I went and fetched it from West Bromwich. Factor in the cost of my fuel and an hours driving each way. If I only want a metre. It's cheaper to go to B£Q!!

my angle normally comes courtesy of TATA if when i need a few ft of it now and again.

It's a steel

 

[Richiew]

If I buy just enough for a project, I can guarantee a do-over. I tend to over order.

 

[h-dom]

I just had 900mm of 50mm dia en8 delivered for £54 off eBay

Seems cheap enough to me. Works out at £6 per 100mm length I use to make hammers

Seller is genesismet if it helps anyone.