Gryphon Forge Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Hello everyone! New member here from Illinois. More specifically Oswego (near Aurora). I started metal working on the opposite end of the spectrum as a goldsmith and laser welder. Blacksmithing is a much more recent thing for me but at least I have a leg up. I’m hoping to add some gold inlay work to my forged items in the near future once I get enough stock to start selling. If anyone has a source of steel in the area, please let me know. Anyway, it is nice to have this resource and I look forward to interacting with many of you in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Welcome from the Ozark mountains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 What kind of steel? Are we talking D2 or A-36? They probably would be sourced in different places! Also how much of it? A couple of pounds of drops will generally be sourced from a different place than 3 tons. The devil is in the details so please provide enough information to make good suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryphon Forge Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 I’m looking for a couple sticks of basic stock sizes of A35. Nothing over the top, just some 1/2” square and 3/16x1/2 to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kexel Werkstatt Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Hello Gryphon, I'm in Lombard, not too far away. I bought my first batch of A36 and 1018 from Metal Supermarkets in Bolingbrook. Not the least expensive, but they had what I needed. There are not a ton of options in our area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryphon Forge Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Yeah, I hear all these people talk about how steel is cheap and this or that is a dollar worth of steel or something. I’m looking at this going what the heck is wrong with my area. I am taking a trip to LasCruses NM this summer to visit my fiancé’s family for a month. Might try to stock up before we leave if I can find a supplier cheaper there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kexel Werkstatt Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Well thank you! I'll take a look as I do need a few odds and ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryphon Forge Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Don’t we always. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kexel Werkstatt Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) If you need some stock let me know, happy to help. I have 1/4x3/4" flat, 1/4x1" flat, round in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and 1", square in 5/16", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" (All 1018). I also have a few short pieces of 3/4" S7 and 4140. I don't know if you're looking for full 20' sticks but I have quite a few 4' sections of bar stock if you are in need. Edited January 27, 2021 by KexelWerkstatt Typo's mostly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Welcome aboard! Glad to have you, and please feel free to give us your perspective as a goldsmith as the occasion arises. Always good to think about things in a different way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Welcome aboard Gryph, glad to have you. Have you looked in the phone book for a steel supply? Not the internet the phone book so you don't have to wade through all the, "You MIGHT be interested in . . . " crap. If the first outfit you talk to doesn't sell steel, they will know who does. What do you have in mind making? 3/16" x 1/2" strikes me as an odd size stock but I don't know what you have in mind for it. I'm not criticizing or suggesting something else, I'm just curious. I'm a curious sort of guy. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryphon Forge Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Frosty, I’m looking at a lot of small stuff at the moment. Nails, hooks, and BBQ forks mostly. Maybe some other things like bottle openers and fireplace pokers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Las Cruces NM; when I lived down there I would visit Area Iron & Steel In El Paso. Also Pipe & Metal Sales, PMS, in Las Cruces; different places have different prices for the same things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryphon Forge Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Thanks TP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryphon Forge Posted January 28, 2021 Author Share Posted January 28, 2021 4’ section would be great because they will fit easily in my pos PT Cruiser lol. If I could buy a section each of 3/8 and 1/2 square that should get me started until I can figure out what my best option will be. Much appreciated! Just to give y’all an idea of what I have been dealing with, this is the most recent quote that was sent to me by a local supplier. your bill of sale has been removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kexel Werkstatt Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Happy to help get you started. I can do a 4' section of each no problem, at cost. Call it $15.00 each section or $30 total. Again I got it at Metal Supermarkets in Bolingbrook which is not cheap, it was just close by and easy. Also, it's cold rolled 1018 and not hot rolled A36, so that made it cost more, and, I had them cut it for me as well. If that's more than you want to spend I understand. FYI I have searched a bit and there does not appear to be very reasonably priced steel in the immediate area. If you'd still like it just send me a message. If not, no harm/no foul, I know the price is a bit high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 For ornamental work I only buy cold rolled when I cannot get hot rolled as it is much more expensive. However real 1018 works much softer under the hammer, one reason I haven't hunted down a new supplier of 1/4" sq stock in HR for my teaching stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kexel Werkstatt Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 They had my round bar in hot rolled, but only had my square bar in cold rolled. So, I took what they had so I could get to work. Fortunately I was only buying a few 4' sections, and not 20' sticks. Material definitely cost me more this first time around than I plan on it costing me next time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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