Metal buying guides / Buying
Buying Small Quantities of Steel and Aluminum
You can buy cut-to-size metal for a small project without turning it into a complete fabrication job. Start with the pieces you want to receive: material, thickness or section, finished cut dimensions, and count. That gives you a fair way to compare a few prepared blanks with buying a full bar or sheet.
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Quick answer
List the separate pieces you want to receive, with material, thickness, cut dimensions and quantity. Compare the total for those pieces with buying full stock, including cutting and transport. Four 24-inch pieces are a different order from one 8-foot bar.
At Rapid Metals, listed standard materials can be configured and priced through online ordering. Another grade, an unusual size, or added work goes through a custom request.
Work backward from the pieces you need
Suppose your project needs four pieces of A36 flat bar, each 1/4 inch thick, 2 inches wide, and 24 inches long. Write the request that way. Asking for eight feet of bar leaves open whether you want one long piece or four individual lengths.
The same principle applies to plate. Two 6-by-8-inch blanks are different from one 12-by-8-inch blank, even though they have the same combined face area. The cutting and the material layout are different.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Include | Example |
|---|---|
| Material and grade | A36 steel |
| Stock form | Flat bar |
| Thickness and width | 0.250 x 2 inches |
| Finished cut length | 24 inches each |
| Quantity | Four separate pieces |
| Extra work | None; straight cut blanks |
If you have several lengths, give each length its own row. Our cut-list guide includes a reusable example.
Compare the complete purchase
A full length may be the better buy if you have several uses for it and can transport and cut it. A few cut pieces may make more sense if the remaining stock would sit unused or require another trip.
Compare the total for the material, cutting, requested processing, and transport. Include your own time when it affects the decision. Don't count the leftover stock as savings unless you reasonably expect to use it.
Check the actual order total before adding extra material to meet a minimum. Buying something you don't need can turn a small saving into a larger purchase.
Decide where your work begins
A blank is a starting piece. If you plan to drill and assemble it yourself, order the blank you need for that work. If you want the holes, bends, or other features supplied, describe them in the custom request.
For straight cut-to-size orders, enter the finished dimensions you want to receive. You do not need to add the material removed by the saw. If a machine shop will finish the blank later, get its required starting dimensions first; machining allowance is a separate decision.
Arrange the handoff
Pickup is in Palmyra. For delivery, enter your address to check the available option and total. Follow the order instructions before traveling, and include access or unloading details for delivery. See the current pickup and delivery information.
Have the four-bar example ready? Open that standard configuration to check current pricing. The example describes the order; it does not promise a fixed price.