[Cory]

Whenever ordering from McMaster I always call instead of doing it online.

This allows me to figure out what kind of shipping I need to get something to me by a given time, as well as letting me specify a shipper (for instance, California Overnight will deliver a package shipped by 7 PM the previous night by 10 AM the next morning, for a fraction of the cost of UPS or FedEx). Most of the time I get next day arrival via standard ground shipping.

Seconded on the metal. I never buy in less than stock lengths (12' for solids, 20' for tubing and extrusions) unless it's a very big solid (needed some 3.25" OD 6061 round stock, and some 4"x4" 6061 barstock. Something like $550 for 12' of the former, and $750 for 12' of the latter). If you're buying tubing, extrusion, or smaller solids, they're going to charge you the full price of the length for a cut section, or charge you $20+ to make a cut. A good sales person will tell you if it's cheaper to buy the whole length even if you need the shorter piece.

Don't buy 6061 from McMaster. It's WAY overpriced. I can get the same stuff from Coast for 50-75% the price of McMaster. McMaster's prices on 7075 however, are not bad. Don't buy bearings from McMaster either. We paid 1/10 the price from a local source. Call Motion Industries or a similar company and ask them to quote you the cheapest bearings their suppliers have.