Galvanised angle steel, 40mm x 40mm 3mm thickness.

[shagster]

Does anyone know of a cheap supplier for this, in approximately 3m lengths who can deliver nationally? I plan to buy a fair bit so not bothered about shipping costs. Please don't just say something like 'look for someone local' because I already did!

I've made some rough calculations about the minimum it might cost, based on tube prices. By my calculation, 48.3mm steel tube with 4mm thickness works out at about 552mm2 cross-sectional area, against 40mm x 40mm x 3mm angle which is very approximately 40mm x 3mm x 2 = 240mm2. Going by that and that alone the cost could be about half what tube costs (£20 for 3m), assuming the working costs are about the same. Note: I'm expecting to get all kinds of flak on this forum for making such assumptions as I suspect the tube industry is way more competitive than the angle iron industry: There is usually only one common scaf. tube size vs multiple angle iron sizes and that has surely got to be a factor.

But I see there is a big variation in what people are charging for angle steel. For instance if I didn't care if it were galvanised I could go for this:

Unused equal Angle Iron - <br /> 6.000 mtr approximate length<br /> 40x40x3mm angle iron<br />

Unused equal Angle Iron - 6.000 mtr approximate length 40x40x3mm angle iron . Ainscough Metals are New and Used Steel Suppliers, Fabricators & Structural Steel Specialists

www.ainscoughmetals.co.uk

My 3m length works out at £12.08.
Go to metal supermarket and get the same thing galvanised:

Mild Steel Angle Galvanised | Metal Supermarkets UK

Mild Steel Angle Galvanised is an angle shaped galvanised Mild Steel. Hot-dip galvanising is the process of coating iron or steel with a thin zinc layer, by passing the steel through a molten bath of zinc at a temperature of around 860 °F (460 °C). When exposed to the atmosphere, pure zinc...

www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk

And it comes to £45.50

Would be good to know of any other suppliers who are consistently cheap, and will do galvanised thanks!

 

[blup]

What are you fabricating?
Blup

 

[opps]

By my calculation, 48.3mm steel tube with 4mm thickness works out at about 552mm2 cross-sectional area, against 40mm x 40mm x 3mm angle which is very approximately 40mm x 3mm x 2 = 240mm2

I am guessing that you mean 40mm x 30mm x 2mm.

That is 136mm2 not 240mm2

(38mm x 2mm) plus (30mm x 2mm) = 136mm2


And a 48.3mm tube at 4mm is

(π24.15²)- (π22.15²) = 1831-1540= 290mm2


I don't understand how you are getting your figures.

For the L angle, I split it in to two rectangles (taking in to account that one rectangle needs to lose 2mm).

For the pole, I used πr² - I halved the diameter to find the radius and created two circles, subtracting the smaller one from the larger.

 

[conny]

Depending on 'who' you are searching for you can get varying results.
If you are looking under 'Builders', 'Engineering Supplies' etc you will probably get different prices than if you looked under 'Steel Stockists'.
If you are planning on buying 'a fair bit', either as a bulk buy, (best), or on a regular basis then you may be able to set up a deal with the supplier to get a discount.
When you phone for a quote explain what you want, how much you want, how you want it, (bulk or regular supply), and ask if they do any form of discount, (such as paying up front or by opening a trade account.
For best prices you need to be able to negotiate with the supplier but, he will want assurances you will be a good customer rather than someone trying to get as much as he can as cheaply as possible.

 

[scbk]

Around here all the local steel fabricators will happily sell you lengths of box section, angle iron, tube etc for cash.
Plain steel, not galvanised.
I think they come in 6m or 6.5m lengths off the lorry, and they would cut them to any size you wanted

 

[shagster]

I am guessing that you mean 40mm x 30mm x 2mm.

No, I meant two bits of steel 40mm x 3mm x-section joined together into an angle.

That is 136mm2 not 240mm2

40 x 3 = 120mm2. Two of them to make 240mm2

(38mm x 2mm) plus (30mm x 2mm) = 136mm2


And a 48.3mm tube at 4mm is

(π24.15²)- (π22.15²) = 1831-1540= 290mm2

Ignoring the .3mm the radius of the outer is 24, the radius of the inner is 20, not 22. Your calc is for 2mm wall thickness.

I don't understand how you are getting your figures.

For the L angle, I split it in to two rectangles (taking in to account that one rectangle needs to lose 2mm).

Sure but I don't want 2mm, and I don't care about .3mm diameter or the 'lost' 3mm square as part of the calculation just for the sake of framing a question about where to buy cheap steel. Consider it an estimate!

 

[shagster]

Still best to stay local.

Not sure that applies here. I once got a quote for some metalwork, the delivery was extortionate, so I asked a local firm to tell me the price for the same thing, thinking I could then pick it up. I asked them to match the other price with delivery on top, thinking I'd at least do my bit for the environment, even if I didn't save anything. They just point-blank refused and said no way, didn't bother even reducing their quote at all. There's no cheap metal in Oxford AFAIK.

 

[shagster]

What are you fabricating?

Nothing in particular, this is just a good size for general projects. I'm going off timber a bit. It's been my material of choice over the last 10 years, but I'm starting to see some benefits to using (galv.) steel instead. Wickes timber prices seem to keep going up as well, and steel isn't going up as fast (for what I buy). Also I don't like ordering timber for delivery, I want to find pieces that are straight as I'm quite choosy, and this takes a fair amount of time and involves a fair amount of re-arranging stacks at my local Wickes/Jewson/Travis and going through everything. You can avoid this to some extent with steel. Anyhow, going forward I plan to make things in a bit more hybrid fashion. It's too costly to order for each project, so I'm planning to buy a batch and if it's galv. I can even store it outside. Hope that answers your question.

 

[shagster]

Depending on 'who' you are searching for you can get varying results.
If you are looking under 'Builders', 'Engineering Supplies' etc you will probably get different prices than if you looked under 'Steel Stockists'.

Yeah, OK that's fair.

If you are planning on buying 'a fair bit', either as a bulk buy, (best), or on a regular basis then you may be able to set up a deal with the supplier to get a discount.

I'm not planning on buying on a regular basis, this would be a one-off.

When you phone for a quote explain what you want, how much you want, how you want it, (bulk or regular supply), and ask if they do any form of discount, (such as paying up front or by opening a trade account.

Every time I've needed to ask anyone for a quote on steel supply their quote has been higher than what others are giving on their sites. The saying goes: If you have to ask the price, it's probably too much. Sure, you can haggle over a quantity order when someone's posted a price, but if they've not given any pricing on their website at all it's better to walk. I've found zero exceptions to this rule.

 

[shagster]

Bushbury Cladding Ltd are about 70mile NW of Oxford. Wolverhampton

It wasn't hard to find cheaper, at least for their corrugated sheet. They charge double what I paid for my last batch, admittedly that was back in 2020 (prices could have changed). They don't mention angle steel on the site however, and seem like a roofing specialist.

 

[blup]

Nothing in particular, this is just a good size for general projects. I'm going off timber a bit. It's been my material of choice over the last 10 years, but I'm starting to see some benefits to using (galv.) steel instead. Wickes timber prices seem to keep going up as well, and steel isn't going up as fast (for what I buy). Also I don't like ordering timber for delivery, I want to find pieces that are straight as I'm quite choosy, and this takes a fair amount of time and involves a fair amount of re-arranging stacks at my local Wickes/Jewson/Travis and going through everything. You can avoid this to some extent with steel. Anyhow, going forward I plan to make things in a bit more hybrid fashion. It's too costly to order for each project, so I'm planning to buy a batch and if it's galv. I can even store it outside. Hope that answers your question.

Maybe buy as an investment, prices are bound to significantly increase, sell what you don't need on ebay

Blup

 

[scbk]

Prices of steel (and timber too of course) have defiantly gone up a lot in the last couple of years, I can't see them coming down anytime soon.

Steel is a commodity so unless you're doing a deal for cash they will often have to look up on their computer to tell you what todays price is, even though they might have bought the stock at a different price.
Like with weighing in scrap, or buying copper pipe.

Scrapyards can be a source of cheap angle iron/tube but it's luck of the draw!

 

[shagster]

They will form angle to your specifications. In 3m lengths.
Many of these companies use beam folders and can fold and shear well beyond 3m.

Sounds like a custom job, and something that's going to be £££. I will give them a try but I don't hold out much hope over someone who just supplies mass-produced angle.

And yes corrugated roofing and steel in general has at least doubled in price since 2020.

A quick check of past invoice from around the same time reveals:
May 8th 2019: 8ft Galvanised Scaffold Tube 10 £115.20
And today from the same company: 8ft Galvanised Scaffold Tube 10 £148.80
I make that 30% increase.

 

[scbk]

Have a look at chain link fence posts, they are normally:
-galvanised
-40 or 50mm angle
-2.4m long

 

[shagster]

You won't find anyone with a shelf stock of 40mm x 40mm galvanised angle in large amounts or in any amount for that matter.

Galvanised Angle 3mm thick 3m lengths | UK wide delivery

Galvanised mild steel angle 3mm available in 3m lengths with unlimited FREE cuts. We deliver to all parts of UK. Call us on 01274 875479 with your requirements.

www.themetalstore.co.uk

Galvanised angle is off no use to anyone as it cannot be fabricated and welded.

You can drill and bolt it. How is that of no use?