Best place to buy materials

I am currently using 25 mm flat bar from b and q for repairing a garden roller.js there any online sales companys people use as some places are 15 pounds or more for delivery

25 x 6mm black bar, just check out local steel stockholders. It may come in 6m length so take a hacksaw with you and cut to suit the car.. No delivery charge ! Noel.

I have just bought several items from Just Metal (ukfab12 on ebay), they were good prices and very quick delivery.

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I need 25mm by 8 and 2 and a half meters long.

As Noel says, a metal stockholder would be the best place, that 2.5 metres would fit in a Corsa size car easily, but you should take something to wrap it up in with you.

This is another reason why it's a good idea to put your location in your profile or at least, mention it in your post. Without that, people cannot offer help as to local suppliers.

I am in hampshire

Hi Robin,

I think there is a metric steel stockholder somewhere in South Hants. Not the cheapest but if u click n collect, saving heavy postage costs, does it matter? Sorry, cannot recall name.

Have vague recollection that one of the moderators recommended them or in ME Editorial recently.

John

Edited By DMB on 08/06/2021 20:10:22

Try Ringwood Metals I use them for mail order but you can visit and collect

Noel,

Our local steel stockholders (Parker Steel) will thwart you there with your hacksaw on H&S grounds. The won't sell you anything that won't fit in the load space of your vehicle, as ordered. They will not let you carry it out of the door unless they are satisfied your vehicle is suitable (their judgement). Chopping it up yourself in the car park is a definite no no, you wouldn't even get tit that far! You can't enter the yard without a high vis, safety boots, glasses and a helmet. When I questioned it I was told someone cut themselves in the car park cutting something. Needless to say apart from them being very pricey anyway I go elsewhere!

Paul.

Parker Steel might be obstructive to remain as a trade-only stockist, as MacReady's is or was (according to a page full of very small type on its delivery-notes).

If there is not a steel retailer close by you might be able to buy from a small, independant blacksmith or architectural steelwork maker or similar, though he would be in his rights to charge for cutting the stock length to convenient divisions. If I needed most of the uncut bar I'd ask for the full length, including the remnant after cutting the lengths you want.

There are also quite a number of steel stockholders on-line, such as Metals4U, though obviously they sell cut lengths and charge the carrier's costs.

The Metal Store has what you want, £30 for 6 metres, 25x8mm black flat bar, they do free delivery over £50, with unlimited cutting service free of charge.

I use this company for fabrication supplies, the free delivery at £50 means it's pretty competitive for £50~£100 orders.

Nigel,

You may be correct however I have witnessed their assistants giving trade account customers the same treatment. On my last visit there a couple of years ago to pick up a couple of black iron plugs which they were more than happy to sell me they wouldn't allow a trade customer with a large van to take a couple of lengths of pipe as they deemed them too long to fit safely in the back! The rather bemused driver had a phone call with his boss, took them out to the van with a tape measure where they agreed it was OK but then insisted the driver change out of his shorts into long trousers and don his hi vis etc before letting him go round to the gate to collect them to load. A couple of weeks later I saw one of their trucks delivering steel wearing......... Shorts! Their site has contracted massively over the years, I can't help wondering if the apparent scaling back of business is linked to their policy.

As noted there are other outlets either locally that are more co-operative (and cheaper) or nationally that even factoring in the delivery / postal charges also offer better value.

Paul.

Hi Robin

You could try FH Brundle for your steel . the price is £7.90 for 3m +vat 25mmx8mm. . I live in n.e. scotland and the delivery charge is £10. Could be worth a try.

This may be the reaon Parker has such strict policies: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/firm-fined-after-workers-seriou-a9451/

Agreed that may be an influence, smacks of paranoia though? The same regulations apply to all, it's how you mitigate the risks and discharge your duty of care without losing business that is the balance? There are ways of managing these situations through freindly assistance instead of a heavy handed H&S gestapo approach.

Paul.