Material sourcing in New Zealand

[c4bb0ose]

hey guys I was wondering what your go to places were for sourcing, I have a fair understanding of where to get precious metals but not so much normal working metals and plastics. all of the websites seem to cater to big corporate businesses and not to someone looking at machining as a hobby, is it a case of going in and hoping they are interested in supplying to you? or are there website dedicated to smaller orders etc.

cheers

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[jatt]

I can't vouch for NZ, but locally over here I just go to to places that make/repair plastic items and get off cuts.

One of my local bearing places stocks few basic rounds and sheets. Always make a habit of knowing my local places stock, sometimes they can surpise you.

[Big S]

Often the trick is to find an engineering place that will sell you short offcuts and stuff, beats buying full lengths. Sometimes the metals suppliers themselves can point you to one of their customers if you dont need a full length.

Shannon.

[Flexo!]

Ullrich are good for smaller quantities. They'll cut any length of the thicker sections. Thinner stuff is by full or half length only. Nalco - full length only (but will cut plate to size). Steel and Tube cut to size for thicker section engineering steels. Normal box / angles etc are full length only.

LEP plastics in chch do small quantities of plastics. Good range. Can be pricy though...

[Big S]

PSP plastics has a good range of sheet acrylic offcuts and can cut to size. Dotmar engineering plastics in Christchurch has ofcuts of most of their plastics.

Shannon.

[jatt]

Yeah am always selling offcuts to the small "backyarders". My racket is canvas, so can't recycle it.

I figure its that or having to pay to dispose of it.

[Quentinlong]

If i'm desperate for small quantities of plastic or aluminium, I found radio spares has a good range. Seriously expensive compared to getting offcuts from the engineering shops or metal recyclers.

[jatt]

lets not forget some good old dumpster diving

The sheet metal shop delivered for me this morn. Thanks guys. With the "ask first" approach and tidying up after oneself, one can obtain all kinds of treasures.

[daniellyall]

yer metal shops are good for that wonder in and just ask