Metal Suppliers

Hi

Having ordered steel from Metals4u waited in all day for delivery only to be told that i wasn't getting it because they had collections to do which were more important !!

Who do you use ?

I arranged for supplies from Acaster steels who delivered on time and were around half the price !!

Shockingly I have still not received a refund for my first failed order despite multiple promises......

So Who do you use ?

Where are you geographically?

I use M-Machine and Macc Models....( google the url for each...)

Have also used ebay for some stuff....sheet copper, brass, aluminium, stainless....

A friend of mine has ordered materials both from Macc Models and from Chronos Ltd with no problems.

Thor

Recently bought several lengths of steel flat and round from Jenkins Steel online. Their pricing structure seems to be very simple - £18 shipment per item plus the cost of the steel (around £2/kg). Unless I was after little pieces (less than a few kg), this seemed to be the best I could find.

Murray

I buy all my metal from m -machine metals and never had a problem with delivery and I live in Southern Ireland also I found their prices very competitive .

Vince

I have used M-machine metals, too but recently bought several sections of BMS from an eBay seller called Steel City Gav. For example, last Friday afternoon, I ordered a 500mm length of 5mm x 50mm, 250mm lengths of 20mm x 30mm and 50mm x 20mm for a project I have in mind. Within an hour, I'd had an email to say it was on its way! I wasn't in a rush for it, but it arrived via Hermes at just after one o'clock today, Monday. I dare say it wasn't the cheapest at £27.45 for the lot, but I was pleased. The price is quoted as "postage free", so that's obviously factored in. I will certainly use him again. ( Just a satisfied ...... well, you know! )

John

Depends if you live close enough, if you do I use Mick at Noggin End Metals **LINK**

I give him a call, then pop over, he's prepared to cut the larger stuff to the length you want and his prices are good.

If I want longer or larger quantities of Aluminium I use Aluminium Warehouse, I have only ever had great service from them **LINK**

HTH, Ian

I have no connection to Noggin End Metals other than the fact that I have used their services on numerous occasions. I have always found them to be competitive and quick. A quick phone call and a credit card.... sorted!

I hope this is of some help.

Regards

Tom

GLR- Kennions

Martin

Because I live within reach of Canterbury and have a van, I use 'Parker Steel' for my engineering steels. They sell 3-3.6m lengths & charge a fortune if you want a cut (which they won't allow you to do on their land), but the steel is a pretty good price (get a price flavour here http://www.parkersteel.co.uk/ if you whinge you can usually get a bit of a discount on the internet price, think I've had 10% or so, but those are a good deal cheaper than most ME suppliers anyway) . Phone your order a day ahead and pick it up through the 'Parker Tools' shop on Vauxhall Road in Canterbury. They will only deliver to businesses though, and under £100 they charge £30 delivery, which makes anything that won't fit in a van quite difficult - and all their black sections are 6m+ in length.

For longish bits of brass & aluminium I collect from Dore Metals up in Sittingbourne, they have a walk-in trade counter but seem completely non-plussed if anyone actually uses it as they are pretty much devoted to b2b.

Regards,

Richard.

Edited By richardandtracy on 20/06/2017 08:37:11

Scrapyards can be useful, especially if you just want some practice.

A tenner will get you about a hundredweight of ferrous for turning into a pile of swarf

edit: You can also find some exceptional sized/shaped lumps in scrapyards which would cost a lot from a proper metal dealer

Edited By Ady1 on 20/06/2017 08:50:00

I use Parkersteel (Cambridge branch) on occasion. I've never had a problem with deliveries to my home. The rule seems to be that for hot rolled steel a cut length is as expensive as the full 6m length. But for bright engineering steels a cut length is pretty much proportional to the cost of a 3m length. For larger section bright steel I order what I need; for example I simply don't need 3m of 5" diameter bright steel; nor, I suspect, do many customers. Another consideration is that they expect the customer to unload, and I can't lift 3m of 5" diameter steel.

Andrew

Andrew - maybe Parker's employ jobsworth's in this area. If the website says something, that's what's happening, no negotiation.

Regards,

Richard.

For many years I used Edwards metals in Brum they were located in the shadow of VIlla Park, small enough to be helpful and encourage loyalty. Have never seen them mentioned hereabouts

I can recommend Thomas Grahams in the Cumbria area (**LINK**).

I use them for long lengths and M-Machine for smaller lengths.

Jon

I haven't tried these people yet but it shows that sometimes local businesses might be ready to sell bits of what they are using themselves.

Might be worth looking for trailer makers, caravan repairs, agricultural repairs and seeing what they will offer.

I use pretty much Macc for all my metals, odd occasions, Reeves, College etc.

Macc service always good and always well wrapped.

Fortunate to work in engineering so the scrap bin 'finds' are useful. unfortunately we don't use much brass and no bronze.

Recently bought some brass filter mesh from the Mesh Company. Excellent service by return.

Bill D

I use M-Machine I phone them with my requirements they cut it to any length you want. Then I drive over and collect it. There prices are good.

For brass, copper, aluminium etc I have used Smiths Metal Centres, my local one being at Attenborough in Nottinghamshire. They have always been helpful and I can collect so no post etc.

Brian

Edited By Brian Hutchings on 23/06/2017 20:46:35