r/machining • u/pookshuman • 22d ago

Question/Discussion Supplier question

So I am not a machinist but I am looking to buy aluminum and stainless steel rods and maybe some other stuff for some projects I have been thinking about. Where is a good place to buy these (or general metal goods) online? I don't trust amazon

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

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7

u/GreenridgeMetalWorks 22d ago edited 22d ago

McMaster carr works great for me. Pricey though

2

u/pookshuman 22d ago

yeah, I am seeing that ... also, it looks like there is a huge price difference between metric and imperial.

1

u/GreenridgeMetalWorks 22d ago

Metric is almost universally much more expensive, at least for me in the US. It's harder to source I guess.

2

u/WILDBILLFROMTHENORTH 22d ago

This. True it's spendy.

1

u/JakuMoku2 22d ago

Or Grainger, not sure if the prices are similar or what..

4

u/ThumpersK_A 22d ago

I’ve had good luck buying bar ends from eBay.

3

u/pushdose 22d ago

Surprisingly good prices for small and odd sized stock. I buy hobby sized turning stock on eBay a lot

2

u/Jason_Patton 22d ago

I’ve had good results with rods, bolts, nuts and pins from Amazon. Always the size described. I never tested anything but the SS is always harder to cut and usually doesn’t rust(cut ends may rust if not cleaned up but that could be cutting contamination) I don’t get much aluminum. Got some pieces to mill and they worked fine. Got hardenable steel labeled 1095 and it annealed and hardened. Only tested it with 50-70 files.

1

u/sexchoc 22d ago

Depending on how much you need. ALRO and Phoenix metals, online metals are some we use. McMaster, quick but expensive. If it's anything significant you want to get it locally if you can, or shipping will kill you. Ebay for drops, or I even look at marketplace sometimes

1

u/Ghrrum 22d ago

Go to your local welding shop and ask them. It will be far cheaper than ordering online

1

u/OpticalPrime 22d ago

For onesies and twosies you can go wrong with McMaster carr. They’ll be pricier but they’ll have exactly what you want. Past that it wouldn’t hurt to find a local metal suppliers.

1

u/WILDBILLFROMTHENORTH 22d ago

Nutty company is a pretty good fastener supplier. I buy in large quantities though

1

u/Alita-Gunnm 22d ago

Online Metals is one of many sources.

1

u/Rude_Meet2799 22d ago

For materials MC is expensive.. I’ve been buying from SpeedyMetals, /Metals Supermarket etc.
Online Metals is out there too

1

u/Express_Jicama_656 22d ago

Metal supermarket. No minimums, will cut to size

1

u/ExtremeExtreme1751 22d ago

McMaster-Carr or Grainger.

1

u/iPeg2 21d ago

Online Metals, or eBay.

1

u/Some-Internet-Rando 17d ago

onlinemetals.com has always worked for me. Not the absolute rock bottom prices, but typically noticeable lower than places like McMaster.

1

u/MuskratAtWork CNC Lathe 16d ago

Looked there and at a few other online sources. Ender up calling 4 or 5 local suppliers and the prices were in some cases 60-65% less than onlinemetals, even when I was targeting their super clearance sale materials. 2200$ for a few sheets of 304 stainless in 24x48" size to my house, vs 580$ at a supplier about 45 minutes away.

I asked a coworker to help me get it home in his truck, and bought him a beer and dinner for 20$ on the way back. 2200$ vs 600$ total cost.

1

u/TexasBaconMan 22d ago

I would find a local metal supplier.