I just got started and got a 4x8 hot rolled of 14ga for around $60 plus $3 to cut (shear) in half. The company is Patton’s but it’s just here in SoCal I think.
#1 where are you? bfe or major manufacturing area?
#2 do you have a trailer for local pickup or do they need to deliver it?
#3 do you a towmotor?
1/4 × 48 x 96 is 10.21 lb per sq ft or about 325 # and 1/2 like 650 #.
#4 do you have a truck/trailer?
Alot of questions but all relevant.
For example, I work at a machine shop so I order from our supplier and have shipped to work cod.
NOW my shop is tiny…I can not manipulate anything bigger than 48 x 48 onto my table. So manpower < towmotor so max by myself safely is 48 x 48 14 gage, or 36 x 48 1/8 in.
I get 3/16 " by 36 x 96 sheared lengthwise, I can get off truck by myself ( set one end down on ground at a time )and cut to shorter lengths and still have the 18" for bumpers.
I get several pcs of 14gage sheared. They strap to a pallet and it goes straight onto my truck or trailer.
I know this is getting long, but pre C19 my buddy would drive the 1/2 hr to pounding mills VA, they loaded his trailer down and would park it IN his shop use overhead crane with 6 sheet metal clamp things and set them off…no way in hell I could do that.
Size/weight isn’t my issue. I have a 1 ton F350 and an F550 stake bed w/ 3K lift gate, plus a 10K forklift. Portland, Oregon. Mostly concerned about pricing and best sources, tips & tricks for supply & material choices, etc.
here in northern illinois i use speedymetal.com and Ryerson steel mostly Ryerson has a warehouse 2 miles from my shop and speedy metals is in Rockford about 25 miles from me. i have a car trailer so picking up big sheets is not a problem, also have a 5k forklift.
I keep forgetting to setup my LLC with them. Always in a hurry when I go pick up. I can’t imagine having the orders delivered, I bet they are charging $75 to deliver.
prices seems to be scattered high and low. Here in Northern California, a 48x96" sheet of 16 gauge is $121, 14 gauge is $148 . My son’s high school got him some 14 gauge for $100 for a fair project he’s building…