buying raw materials.

[SeventyNine]

;Done thing ive noticed with restoring my car is, when wanting to buy raw materials, sheet metal, box section, sheet perspex etc, theres nowhere thats really open to the public to do so.

currently I'm having troubles trying to find a sheet of perspex.....needs to be about a metre square and about 5mm thick.......cant find it anywhere.

previously finding sheet and box metal was difficult, but being pals with john at ashley its made it a bit easier.

when i was building an amp case i wanted some 'nice' wood too, but couldnt find anywehre that would sell me a small peice of teak etc...

anyone got any good places where you can buy any of the mentioned?

oh hi btw, I'm still around.........

[claypole]

That'll be British companies at their best... If it's not on a shelf they'll go out of their way to stop you buying it.

Customer service, telephone manners, bah trifles wasted on anyone who is "trade". Then they wonder why they go bust.

[arthurbrown]

I know what you mean. I tried to get some quality wood for a DIY project, like smacking your head on a brick wall. NO. I DO NOT WANT PLANED PINE!!!

As for sheet steel, I have no probs with that. My mate owns a sheet metal fabrication firm, so I go and steal it from him. ;D

[popuptoaster]

you can buy perspex from B&Q in various thickness sheets about 4ft square for under 20 quid I get my steel from the nearest steel yard to wherever i happen to be and timber from a travis perkins, i never have any bother, in fact if I'm after making a small braket or somethin i usually get the steel laser cut to a pattern before i buy it as its easier, got two made up to support the hood frame on the jeep for 15 quid, at that money its not worth buying them and making them yourself.

people always slagging off small businesses, but theres loads of places to get all sorts of stuff round here.

[reanimation]

Good thread, totally agree, not only does the DIYer have to learn an array or skillz0rs the hard way and financial juggling but a network of 'contacts' is also needed for storage, various parts, tools, and various favours!

Maybe this thread could be very useful, always on the look out for materials....

[fastdub]

all b&q superstores stock that kind of stuff

[bigginger]

...and if you want 'posh' wood, try a decent timber yard. They do exist, and they do sell small quantities

[John]

The hardest part of car building etc..........You know exactly what you want but don't know where to get it!!

It took me years to build up a list of suppliers but I always needed new things

Here are my tips:

1) If you want small quantities go to a company that uses the product not the main supplier. The main supplier often will only deal in truck loads. The user will have a scrap pile that you can buy bits from in cash (their holiday / drink fund!) If you only know the supplier then telephone them and ask if they will sell or have a minimum order quantity. If they will not then ask them to recommend someone they supply who will be able to help.

I have bought exhaust wrap, insulation cloth, polycarbonate sheet (Lexan) this way at low prices.

2) Try to use the same places and get known, but don't become a pest. If you are building a car then take them pictures. These guys are in a day to day job and welcome a bit of something different.

3) A few packets of biscuits or box of beer works wonders.........

4) You can buy everything you need, you just need to find them. The internet makes it so much easier so use Google. But sometimes knowing what to put in to Google is difficult. Try to think in general terms and not be too specific. For example if you want perspex, put in "plastic suppliers", "anti vandal windows" , "plastic windows" etc.
When telephoning try not to get fobbed off. Be ready when told "no", "Can you please recommend somewhere / one?"

[slater]

EBAY! If your after off cut type sizes then theres loads on ebay nowerdays.

Otherwise theres nothing stopping you getting 1 6m length of box section delivered to your house you know. 6m may be more than you attulay need at the time but once you have cut it into 3 bits then it dosnt take up much space and i guarentee once its there you will find a use for it pretty sharpish!

You can get sheets of polycarbonate from Arco, You must have a local steel stockholder too which will stock mild box/sheet/angle simlar places exist for stainless and ally

[PhoenixC]

Most of the smaller steel stockholders will sell you cut to length and off cuts of steel. Bigger places will just sell you complete lengths, but as Slater says its often worth getting as it works out cheaper.

B&Q is expensive for perspex, plus the stuff they sell is marked as being indoor use only. Most local glazing firms can supply you with perspex or polycarbonate, cut to size as well if you want.
Alternatively ebay is now a good source for it.

Also you can try this place

www.gcip.co.uk/EP/perspex_sheet.htm

They deal in most plastics including nylon and polyurethane rods if you need some to make some bushes.
They also sell precut car sets of polycarb and perspex.

Plus they also have this pdf manual into how to work and machine perspex which looks pretty useful.
www.gcip.co.uk/pdf/perspexmanual.pdf

Again if you want wood (oo-er missus ) leave the high street have a word with local joiners shops and timber merchants. Most joiner shops will be happy to sell you it for a small charge, even cut to size if you want and it will still be a damn sight cheaper than B&Q etc.

Hasnt been mentioned yet, but if you need any engineering metals, such as phosphor bronze or chrome rod then bearing stockists are a good source of this.

[John]

Just remembered www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk/ Locations all over.

They specialise in cut to length. They are not cheap but very convenient. We use them a lot.

[scaryoldcortina]

john said:

Just remembered www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk/ Locations all over.

They specialise in cut to length. They are not cheap but very convenient. We use them a lot.

Was just about to mention them... Again, if you get to know the staff, stuff from the offcut bin gets very cheap (or free) ;D

[escortnewboy]

Lath
give me a pm when you need box and sheet metal
uncle works in fabrication and my dad gets a load of
it aswell

Jack

[magnetteman]

We've got a family run blacksmith/engineering shop near us and they're always happy to let me rummage around for off-cuts. The even deliver on the larger parts as long as I don't mind waiting for the truck to be going my way.


It might be worth seeing if you've got something like that around your way.

[bodieanddoyle]

for alloy try www.metalfast.co.uk/ some midlands location- ideal for seventynine. they delivver UK wide too.
a few bike builders use 'em for slabs of HE30 (custom yokes).

[Ratters]

if i want or need anything 'metal' i just take it from work ;D lol

seriously though, you want to find a local metal work/ fabrication company. we do entrance systems/roller shutters but anyone that does engineering, laser cutting, gates/railings, profiles, etc should or will have offcuts lying around. i've handed smaller stuff out from our place foc usually, anything else would be beer money.

[bbq]

I've just discovered a useful source for FIA approved roll cage tube- hydraulics suppliers.

After a couple of places quoted me £15 a metre I got chatting to a guy who owns a local hydraulics firm and has done a bit of motorsport. He pointed out that hydraulic tube meets all the specs that the FIA requires and costs £6 a metre.

If anyone knows of a cheaper source I'd love to hear it, because you don't half need a lot of tube to make a cage!

BTW, sheet steel and angle can normally be got from a bodyshop factors- or anyone with a Hadrian panel catalogue.

[BiAS]

Find yourself a corus dealer for sheet, their zintec is great for panel work. I've had bad experiences with Hadrian sheet with it coming with rust already in it.

[gitfarm]

check that the perspex from diy places is UV stable tho..