Mild steel tubing anywhere to be found?

Anyone know where I can purchase 1 inch OD mild steel tubing in a small quantity for a seat fabrication project? My local hardware shops only sell black and galvanized pipe. I have seen folks use copper tube which is easily found but I would rather use steel. I contacted a steel supplier but they only sell in large quantities per pound.

Thanks for any help,

Pete

 

electrcal or plumbing suupply? or are you wanting to use dom

 

If you have any kinda rubber hose place near you they might keep some in stock to make up their lines with, at least I know we have a rubber and gasket place here in town that does. Also, all the machine shops in your area should have some or be able to get you some with their next order of steel. Most regular hardware stores and even alot of the plumbing houses will only have pipe like you mentioned.

Check the machine shops first, or also if there are any offroad shops in your area there is a good chance they will have some laying around or be able to get it at a decent price.


EDIT: Just as a side note, for work on seats you would also be ok with 3/4" black pipe if you can't find the tubing you are looking for. 3/4" black pipe O.D. is 1.050"

 

I have ordered several times from these people.
http://www.onlinemetals.com/

 

If you called up a steel place they may have quoted you CWT -- thats dollars per hundred pounds of whatever you wanted a price on. It's typically sold in 20' or 40' lenghts. (Some pipe is 21' sticks.)

Most places will have a minumum purchase of around $50 to $75. They'll cut a stock size in half for free (one cut). I.E. cut a 40 down to 2 20's for transport).

Call 'em back and be sure you are on the same page.

 

How about Tractor Supply? Might be woth a shot.

 

just go to a local steel scrap metal recycler place theyll have what ya want for sure

 

Find you a metal fabrication shop in your area and go talk to them. I always buy my steel from a local fab shop, they are cheaper than most metal suppliers and alot of time you can buy there scrap and it will work fine for ya and not have to worry about long lengths.

 

Hey thanks for all the tips and links. Those are some good suggestions. I'm sure at least one of them will work out.

Pete

 

:iagree:

 

I just went to the local welding supply. I told them I wanted 65 inches of 4 inch c channel. I paid $22.50 and took a cut ticket to the yard and they cut it on the spot. Ther counter guy said they are always cutting stuff for Jeeps and he knew i was building a front bumper.

 

Sounds kinda like the machine shops and places like that around here. Offroading is such a big thing here in this town that those places keep stuff like that in stock, and one even keeps the four-link tubing cut in several different lengths so that all they have to do is tap the ends once they are sure the length is right. Heck, I even keep some stuff like the tubing that everyone is using to make Z-bars for Samurai's.

 

Woh! Somebody from Charlestonwired.com just Pm'd me that he can get square, angle and plate for .01 a pound. I'll let you know how it turns out. He works at a place that has Steel in the name.

 

Check out this thread on Pirate. Haven't bought from this guy but he sells small qauntities.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=442891

 

i agree to find a fab/machining shop in your area. it will probably be very hard to find though. I knwo that I get all of my steel for free from my the machioning shop my dad works at. They have tons of scrap. Even if it seems a company would not have what you are looking for you should always ask because they might of had it from 5 yrs. earlier and have been storing it since then.

 

Please avoid pipe. It's made from a very low grade of metal. A seat frame/bracket may sound like a minor project, but your butt is going to be strapped to it. For safety's sake, seat mounts should be treated with the same care that a roll cage would be. I get all my steel from local suppliers. Many will let you dig through their remnants and sell by the pound. It's usually much cheaper than buying "new".