Pricing for steel tubing

[mdierolf]

I've recently started metalworking, and i've been calling around to get pricing for some tubing which I need for a project.

Tubing is 8' length 3" Square Hot Roll Tubing with 1/4" wall.

I've received quotes anywhere from $11/foot to $25/foot - the cheapest actually being from Metals Supermarket which according to some is one of the more expensive places around.

Does $11/foot sound fair, or should I keep looking? The more I call the cheaper the price I find. This is for a small quantity, 4 pieces.

Mark

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by mdierolf I've recently started metalworking, and i've been calling around to get pricing for some tubing which I need for a project. Tubing is 8' length 3" Square Hot Roll Tubing with 1/4" wall. I've received quotes anywhere from $11/foot to $25/foot - the cheapest actually being from Metals Supermarket which according to some is one of the more expensive places around. Does $11/foot sound fair, or should I keep looking? The more I call the cheaper the price I find. This is for a small quantity, 4 pieces. Mark

Well, it's 9.3lbs/ft, I'm paying $.80/lb for hot roll plate, tubing is more expensive, and I believe square is more than round, I've never bought enough to pay attention to the price.

Maybe google "Yarde Metals" and check thier "drop zone", might get a better price.

MC

[Geof]

I think $11 per foot is quite good, I will try to remember and get a price from my small lot supplier for comparison.

[DareBee]

11/foot?!?!
That is 2.5 times what I pay in CANADIAN dollars
Methinks you don't have an OEM industrial account setup.

[DSL PWR]

Well I just called the yard I use and they gave me a quote of 6.44 cad/ft for a full length. So if you put a 10 dollar cut charge on that 8' piece you get about 7.69/ft. So 8.00/ft for such a small amount isn't too bad, and I wouldn't worry about it. I was buying plate for about .10 less a pound in Grande Prairie Ab., than my cousin in Portland Or. (that was figuring in the exchange at the time). A couple years ago the USA put an import tax on all steel, which drove up the price of even the domestic stuff.

[DareBee]

Like I said, I pay about $4/' and don't get cut charges.
It will all depend on your account type.
Metal Supermarkets IS my most expensive supplier of metal by far. Their service is great, but they are my last resort.

[mdierolf]

Given what i'm reading, does anyone have any suggestions for where to buy metal in the SF Bay Area?

Metals supermarket works out to $1.10-$1.50/lb including cut charges for most hot roll steel. The local suppliers i've called are all at least $1.50/lb, not including cut charges.

Price isn't my only consideration, but I really feel like i'm being ripped off by the local suppliers i've called. I'll be buying appx 600lbs over the next month or so, so i'd like to get a good price.

Mark

[DSL PWR]

The problem is you are only buying 600 pounds. Most of the larger steel yards aren't interested in pounds, they want tons.