Metal Suppliers

Was about to ask this question, but thought I'd update this thread. Looking for a good online supplier of small quantities of metal for a Hobbyist.

Thanks

I have used Rapid Metals in Coventry and Metalmania in Hinckley. Rapids prices seem to have increased but are set up to supply the hobbyist, I have always visited in person as there used to be bargain bags of bar ends to be had. With COVID have been using my stock for the last two years.

I used Rapid Metals in Redditch when I lived there. The range of choice was quite wide but I thought them expensive.

Now that I live half-an-hour away from Macc Models I use them for most supplies. I think their prices are very reasonable and they have an far better range of sizes and profiles than Rapid Metals did.

A very useful thread with several suggestions.

I've generally used the regular model-engineering retailers for most, but for larger and heavier sections such as for my workshop's overhead crane parts, used Pulham Steels, in the Dorset village of the name. Their main customers are trade including farmers, but they seel to the DIY customer as it were. I buy and collect complete lengths but cut to either needed lengths or to be simply transportable ("Oh, and the bar-ends too, please! ".

Scrap-yards can yield good finds but you cannot know the steel grades, and the production bar-end with a lovely faced end might prove an absolute what-is-it to machine on a small lathe with conventional tooling.

For sheet-steel work I have used old central-heating boiler panels, server case parts and the like. The thinner sheets are within the capacity of lightweight forming equipment, and its original use shows it of folding quality.

This is beginning to make me feel 'orribly like one of them so-called "influencers". Only they are paid for writing what are unashamedly advertisements. (I assume of course they pay their NI and Income Tax, and insure their bedrooms for business use!).

However...

Toolstation stocks a limited range of architectural metals and a good range of the common ISO-Metric fasteners, circlips, all manner of pressed-steel brackets, tools etc. For non-model metalwork (equipping the workshop, making miniature-railway equipment, traction-engine driving-trolleys, etc.) it's surprising what can be obtained from TS and similar, primarily building-trade, stockists.

I've seen B&Q mentioned on this site. Its basic selection of light aluminium and steel sections is OK for odd tasks and I have bought from there, but the materials are primarily for small household DIY work not high-grade engineering, not cheap, and the quality of the steel can be variable. The canopy poles on my steam-wagon are thin-walled steel tube from B&Q, intended for e.g., wardrobe rails, but they are not supporting any significant load on the wagon. The company used to have a good on-line catalogue... Used to, but it's been re-written to conform with modern retail-chain practice.

Coventry Grinders is good for silver steel rod and ground gauge plate. Good service and very reasonable too, still cheaper than the usual 'model engineer' suppliers despite their P&P being a little higher.

I have used K-Steels in Huddersfield too who were very helpful and reasonable for noggins and heavy off-cuts in the past but I don't think they do mail order, although I could be wrong. I tended not to buy MS stock in dribs and drabs when acquiring materials. Why buy a 2ft length of rod from an ME supplier when you can buy a 3 metre length for nearly the same price from a local steel stock-holder and you have then got almost a lifetime's supply. You can cut it into 2ft lengths yourself if that's what you want.

Not quite in the shadow now, but still there - and they produce a catalogue that is available online Edwards Metals

Another vote for Rapid Metals. Free delivery with DHL if you spend enough and they will sell you little bits without cost penalties. Watch out for their 4mm sheet though, it's bent.