WHere to buy 5/8 steal plate

[programmergeek]

I need to make a part for my metal lathe and I would like to buy a piece of 4x4 5/8 or 16mm steal plate Anyone know where to got this stuff? In fact I wouldn't mind having a bunch of scrap pieces around for projects.

I am in NJ it just seems like materals are hard to find for hobbiests like myself these days.

 

[snowman56]

Any steel supply should be able to handle your needs.There should be some sort of scrapyards that would have most anything you want in the way of scrap.

 

[akbar24601]

Check with local steel fabrication shops and also a local pipe yard that rolls their own pipe would have plenty of scrap.

 

[skiprat]

Take a couple of pens and take a trip around your local industrial area.
Don't be shy about asking. I'm not, and have never bought any scrap.:biggrin:

 

[KenV]

the local welding supply here at the end of the world has plenty of small pieces and always seems willing to swap for scrap. If I can do it in Alaska, "Joysey" should be a piece of cake!!

Good metals I need, I get from online metals (onlinemetals.com)-- I have learned not to rely on scrap, or the stuff form hardware/big box stores for machine work. Cold rolled steel does not work as well as machinable steel on my micro lathe.

Also look at Anvil Fire and others for more local sources of machinable metals with less shipping than online metals (Seattle).

 

[Glass Scratcher]

I went over to the local shipyard and asked the forman, he called one of his fabricators, who grabbed a piece of scrap and ran it through their boat-sized shear press. I tipped the fabricator a twenty for his trouble.