Tips for Sourcing Surplus Steel for Your Next Project
Buying surplus steel is as easy as driving to your local surplus steel supplier and finding the product you need. Planning your purchase, however, can make the process even easier, because you can avoid common pitfalls. Following these tips will reduce or eliminate the possibility of mistakes and waste.
Determine Project Goals
Before you pick up the phone or take a trip across town to your local surplus steel supplier, you have to know what you need. You probably know the generalities behind the material you need, such as the size and the thickness—maybe pieces that have already been fabricated.
You can save yourself a lot of time and money by determining other goals before you start seeking out surplus metal. For instance, is there a budget in place? Are there areas where that budget can be stretched if necessary? Are there additional places you might be able to use surplus steel that haven’t yet identified?
With a clear budget in mind, the total number of pieces you’ll need, any flexibility in size or thickness that could open new options, and specific instructions about fabrication needs, you can save yourself a lot of time, money, and irritation.
Evaluate Surplus Steel Supplier Options
You’re probably already familiar with some of the surplus steel suppliers in your area, but are you aware of everything they can do for you? Some can only sell you the items they have in stock—and some of those may not stock unusual items. Others may have a wider variety of options but offer no value-added services, such as sawing, shearing, or punching.
Still others, like Texas Iron and Metal, will have a large warehouse and yard with almost every type of surplus steel you could imagine. Not only will they have most of what you need already there in stock, they can also locate and procure any items that aren’t already part of their inventory.
With some research before you buy, you can find the surplus steel supplier who can help you gather all the material you need and help prepare the steel for use with value-added services. Wouldn’t that save a lot of time and stress?
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Once you’ve found the right surplus steel supplier for your needs, be sure to accurately communicate every need. Nothing is more frustrating than arriving to pick up your purchase or having that purchase shipped to you, only do discover that you’ve left out an important detail.
Be sure to have all the relevant information at the ready as you speak with the sales representative from your chosen surplus steel supplier. This includes grades, dimensions, and any other specific properties you need. If you need material that meets particular standards, be sure to include that information too.
The more you can convey about the steel you need, the more likely you’ll be to receive your material exactly as requested.
Inspect Your Purchase
Once you receive your order of surplus steel, be sure to examine each piece thoroughly for any issues. Is everything the correct size? The right grade? Are any odd shapes the correct form? Was any cutting, sheering, or punching performed correctly?
If any issues do arise, maintain a precise list of the problems. Again, the more thorough you are with the information, the better your sales representative can identify the problems and make them right for you.
Build a Relationship
With strong communication and a successful surplus steel order under your belt, you’ve likely already built a great relationship with the sales representative. If you can maintain this relationship, you’ll discover that every future order will be easier and smoother than the last. And, as we know, easier and smoother equals money saved.
When you’re ready to order surplus steel, Texas Iron and Metal is here to help. We have acres of surplus metal waiting for you, and if you don’t find what you need here, we can still get it for you. Reach out today to get a quote.