Finding Fabrication Materials

[SpiderSpartan]

As the weather starts to warm I'm thinking about getting back out in the garage. I've got a few projects in mind. Only problem, same thing I always run into, where to get fabrication materials? I'm talking steel plates and sturdy, weldable steel tubing. Local big box stores have thin plates (sheets really) and short tubing.

So how about it, where do you get your fabrication materials? I'm in southwest Ohio, between Cincinnati and Dayton. If anyone knows somewhere in my area I'd be especially grateful.

 

[MadManAndrew]

I get mine from fence supply stores. Or just google "metal Cincinnati". They all carry a ton of different types, sizes, gauges of metal. And to top it off it's about 1/8 of the price of the same material at Home Depot. The box stores gouge you on stuff like that.

You can also order it only from places like metalsDepot.com but similar to Home Depot these places charge a premium for the convenience, 2 to 10x as much as you would pay at a local fence or metal supplier.

 

[SpiderSpartan]

I get mine from fence supply stores. Or just google "metal Cincinnati". They all carry a ton of different types, sizes, gauges of metal. And to top it off it's about 1/8 of the price of the same material at Home Depot. The box stores gouge you on stuff like that.

You can also order it only from places like metalsDepot.com but similar to Home Depot these places charge a premium for the convenience, 2 to 10x as much as you would pay at a local fence or metal supplier.

Thanks! I googled metal cincinnati and the first listing that came up, https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/cincinnati/, looks promising. I had tried googling some stuff before and all the results I was finding looked like places to buy in bulk. If this place doesn't pan out I'll check out the local fencing suppliers to.

 

[MadManAndrew]

Unless they specifically say wholesale they won't require you to buy more than a stick which is between 20 and 24 feet, and I haven't found a place yet that wouldn't cut a stick down to pieces that would fit in my truck.

 

[Ebrownie]

NEVER buy from Home Depot or a similar store. They charge way more than a metal supplier. And I agree with Andrew, most suppliers will happily cut the pieces down to whatever size you want.

 

[B.M.800]

Local weld shops should be able to help you out. Or atleast point you in the right direction.

 

[SpiderSpartan]

I stopped in my local metal supermarkets location and looked at some stuff. Right now I've been thinking about trying to make a strut tower brace for my car. Figured it would be pretty cheap, so if it didn't turn out or broke, no big deal. I was surprised when they told me 6' of steel tube and a 6"x12"x1/8" steel plate would run me over $100. for that much I'll cough up the extra $100 for the professionally made piece.

Maybe I asked for the wrong stuff, 304 Stainless Steel. What types of metal would you guys use to build kart frames?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

No stainless. It's expensive and hard to weld. Just stick to mild steel.

 

[Kartorbust]

Stainless is no harder to weld than mild steel and can be welded with standard mild steel wire and C25 gas. Won't be the best in the world but totally doable.

308 stainless if I recall is more of the popular alloys used, been a while since I did stainless welding in college, but that's what we used. If you want to weld stainless to mild steel, you would want to use 309 wire with straight Argon gas, however it's not 100% needed. It's just the welds will be susceptible to corrosion using mild steel wire, rather than 309 wire. But it's a cheaper route. 14 gauge and thinner stainless are susceptible to warping, so keep that in mind.

 

[MadManAndrew]

Maybe I asked for the wrong stuff, 304 Stainless Steel. What types of metal would you guys use to build kart frames?

Definitely the wrong stuff. You want mild steel. The 1" mild steel square tube I'm using for my current build was $0.60 a foot.

 

[SpiderSpartan]

Ok, thanks guys. I called and asked for a price in mild steel. Comes out to just over $45 with tax. That's for a 6' long 1" OD ~1/8" thick tube and a 1/8" thick plate 12"x6". At that price I think I'll give this a go.

 

[Texan]

Ok, thanks guys. I called and asked for a price in mild steel. Comes out to just over $45 with tax. That's for a 6' long 1" OD ~1/8" thick tube and a 1/8" thick plate 12"x6". At that price I think I'll give this a go.

Just ask if that is for Hot Rolled or Cold Rolled, hot rolled is almost always cheaper.

 

[OzFab]

Thanks! I googled metal cincinnati and the first listing that came up, https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/cincinnati/

Funny, that would've been my first suggestion

1/8" wall is overkill, 0.085" is plenty...

By using thick wall material, all you do is add unnecessary weight to the kart; if you want more robust material, go bigger, not thicker...

 

[SpiderSpartan]

Thanks for all the advice. I just got 6' of cold rolled 1.125"OD x 0.065" and a hot rolled 11ga. 6"x12" plate for just under $40. The guy at metal supermarkets was helpful and patient with me not knowing what I really wanted or what I was talking about.

 

[OzFab]

It's always good when the "hired help" actually help instead of carrying on like you're wasting their time...

 

[mckutzy]

I have found they typically will let you look at what they have, if not escorted around to the racks....
For the most part they cater to the average people getting a chunk of something and also businesses that run a production.....

 

[SpiderSpartan]

Not exactly a go kart this time, but I was able to fab up a strut tower brace for my car. I installed it to make sure it worked ok before I go back to paint it. Saved me over $150 making it myself with maybe 5-6 hours of work including design. Thanks again for the tips.