Best source in the RDU area for sheet metal?

[scsmith42]

I need to buy some sheet metal (either 18 or 20 guage galvanized steel) to fabricate the discharge chute for the dust collector. My shear is good for 52", so I'd like to find some 48" wide flat sheet (or narrower). This is the same material that commercial HVAC metal ducts are fabricated from.

Does anybody have any knowledge about suppliers?

Thx.

Scott

 

[DaveD]

Check with Dillon Supply. They should have it in 4x8 or 5x10 sheets. Their prices aren't the greatest but they do have 'steel'. They are right off Poole road and 440.

Or maybe a place like Apex Steel (never dealt with them though). Another place might be a HVAC sheet metal shop

 

[Bernhard]

Dave said it: DIllon Supply. I buy all steel from Dillon. There are not cheap, but at least they do have most common stuff in stock.

Bernhard

 

[jhreed]

I agree with Dillon. There is also Chatham Steel in Durham. Steel is all they sell and are usually a little cheaper than Dillon
James

 

[junquecol]

Scott, I buy my sheet metal from N B Handy. They are in an industrial park, just beyond Wurth (aka Raleigh Hardwoods.) I used to buy 26 ga from them for my cyclones. I don't know if they carry heavier stock.

 

[jarrett]

I haven't been here myself, but I've been told that J & D Recyclers is a good source for metal goods.

http://jdrecyclers.com/page3.html

 

[SteveHall]

I bought sheet metal for my dust collector cyclone at Alan Kelly near Tryon Rd. and South Saunders/Wilmington. They can even laser cut them for you if you provide CAD files. Extremely reasonable price ($25) if I remember correctly.

 

[scsmith42]

My thanks to everybody for the feedback. I'll run shake the trees and see what falls loose!

Scott

 

[DaveD]

I was very disappointed with JD Recyclers the 1st time I went there. The selection just isn't there. They have lots of 'scrap' but specifics are hard to come by. For all practical purposes you can say they have no sheet metal. Yeah, a few high dollar stainless steel sheets and maybe some misc pieces of 'plate'.

If you are a metal worker and want some steel bar to chuck in your lathe to make something then, yeah, go look there. Want that odd piece of angle iron or some bigger 'chunks' then again, they might have it. Last time I went it was $.50/pound for buying steel and $1.50/pound if you needed aluminum.

They do have some new angle iron and steel tubing in 20' lengths hidden away in a container that goes for a better price than Dillon though. You have to specifically ask for something though and expect to buy at least 10' of it. Surprisingly they had 2x2, 1/4" wall tube that I wanted.

 

[scsmith42]

David, thanks for the insight. I have frequented scrap yards before, with the same results as you have. Sometimes they are a "gold mine", but usually the gold is something that you're not looking for!