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steel costs....

ryoken

ryoken

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Since we have so many guys doing great fab work here, this should be simple for you guys.. It's been awhile since I bought any steel, so yesterday I made a few calls to get some prices...

What I'm looking for is a 4' x 4' piece of 1/8 plate steel.. sheared in 1/2 (2 24" x 48" pieces)

The best price i got was $130. does this sound about right?

My other question is, are there any particular different "styles" of steel available in something like this? I know of different grades in SS, etc, but are there "better" grades of steel to ask for? Or is it all pretty standard plate steel and I'm overthinking this? I'm sure the lowest grade is plenty strong and corrosive resistant for a floor application, just asking more out of curiosity..

Thanks for any enlightenment. :D
 
with steel you cold rolled or hot rolled. this comes in flat bar and round bar. all angle is hot rolled, all square tube is hot rolled. cold rolled is stronger then hot rolled. I wish they would make square in cold rolled. when I buy flat and round I only buy cold rolled stock. its more expensive then hot rolled but not that much.
 
there are all kinds of grades but basic mild steel is 1018, 1020.
 
That seems a bit high. I just priced out a 4x8 sheet of 1/8" diamond plate and it came in around $134.
Most places around here sell by the 100wt. The diamond plate is $69.90 per 100wt and a 4x8 sheet weighs in at around 197 lbs. A 4x4 sheet would be half the price.

I can't imagine flat sheet being cheaper than diamond. :thinking:
 
Thanks guys, all good info that makes sense.....

Now should i just look to get mild steel in a standard grade or is 1/8 stuff like this available in a cold rolled? And does any of this affect the "stiffness" of the panel? think I'm more concerned with that then anything else...
 
sheet steel is specified as "gage". 1/8 is rated as 11 gage in the machinery's hand book. in general lamens terms most specify "sheet steel" up to 3/16 thick or .188 (6 gage) as sheet. then from 1/4 in thick and up as "plate" steel. actually there is 50 gage which is .0044 in decimal, to 7/0 gage which is .4900 in decimal, or 1/2 in plate.

there is even whats called split gage sizes too but we need not get into that. I would recommend buying a machinery's hand book to learn about steels and tons of other stuff aswell. great information in this book. is a machinist bible.
 
cool... have to pick that up.....

how about the stiffness question, does the steel grade or cold rolled make a difference in that?
 
Cold rolled is stronger and more expensive but if you're using it for floor pans, hot rolled is plenty.
 
Have you looked at the price of a machinery handbook lately, even the toolbox version. Ouch. Price a sheet of Inconel 625 and you will feel really good about the price of the HRCS you got quoted for. Of course you could dip 625 in acid for a year and it would come out clean as the day you put it in, but that is the beauty of nickel alloys. The price of s/s has fallen recently, while the price of aluminum has taken a rise in case you were lookin for alternative materials.

Erik
 
What are you planning to use the plate for? I may be able to get you a good price on 1/4" mild. Let me check and I will repost.

Problem is most places like to sell whole sheets.
 
well, i'm gonna ditch the majority of flat up front on both sides... tired of the factory seathole cracking, flexy deal... want a solid base for the PRP seats since i wont be caging for awhile...

thinking 1/4 would be serious overkill for that.... :wink1:

edit/ and yeah, they seemed to be pushing me torwards a full sheet...
 
No deal from my supplier, some times they have remnants, but nothing that large right now.
 
cool... thanks for checking.... not in a big rush... but i do have to get it done next.. its holding up the herculiner and seats... :haha:
 
Way overkill, I will see if they have something.

Still overkill, but right now they have the following in Cold Rolled sheet.
Size: .120 30.00 x 30.00 (11GA) Price per Piece: $11.84, 2 available.
Size: .120 30.000 x 40.000 (11GA) Price per Piece: $15.79, 1 available.
 
sheesh, those 30 x 30 seem like a steal.... thats tempting... could chop 6" add it to the other end... tempting... how much of a hassle is it? i would have to weigh in a trip to Pallisades.... haha, don't think i've been there since the amusement park... :wink1:
 
Let me check my stock tomorrow, I may have some 2x4' sections. My family passes through Point Pleasent just about every other weekend, so I can have them drop it off.
 
wow, that would be beyond killer... I could certainly meet them anywhere in that area... thanks again for checking into it..
 
I bought a 4'x8' sheet of 1/8" plate last week to build some skid plates for $75.05. That was with tax and the fuel surcharge to have it delivered to my shop. Priced another supplier and they were $77 with tax.
 
big83chevy4x4 said:
thats a rip off.
a few months ago i bought a 4'x4' sheet of 14 guage for $15.
i also bought a 2'x2' sheet of 11 guage for $8.
Click to expand...

From where??
 
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