Where to get metal

[Cory]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

6061 is a material standard. So, 6061 from any supplier should be very very close (the difference is just from batch to batch, but is negligible it is so small) and you probably would never be able to tell the difference. 6061 is 6061 no matter where you get it.

Really, avoid mcmaster for metal at all cost.... I have never, ever seen them have the lowest price on anything.

We've gotten what should be standard 6061, but was absolute crap. It had hard and soft spots throughout one piece of metal, which wreaked havoc on our cutting tools.

Everything we're getting now is Alcoa, and it seems to cut a lot nicer.

To the original poster--check out Coast Aluminum. They're based out of Hayward. We've done about $2500 worth of business with them in the last week already. They have everything in stock, or to your door in 2-3 days max. Anything in stock is delivered to your door for free, next day. We've gotten everything we've ordered within two business days so far, and 90% of it within one business day.

[edit] Also MUCH cheaper than McMaster. We purchased two 12 foot lengths of aluminum from them for our wheels and paid probably a little less than two 6' pieces from mcmaster would cost.