Where to Find Scrap Metal | Find Cheap or Free Metal For Welding Projects

In this video we are going to cover where to find scrap metal for your welding projects. In addition to where to find scrap metal, I will also walk you through some projects I've built with scrap metal.
I can't say it enough, building relationships with business owners is key when looking for scrap metal sources. Let your friends and family know you are interested in anything metal they are throwing away and keep your eyes peeled, you are sure to find all sorts of usable metal.
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[@GarageHobbyist]

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[@leslieaustin151]

All this is good advice. I would add this: if you let people know you want scrap and junk, even if they offer you stuff that’s no use to you don’t refuse it. A refusal will often mean that source dries up for you. Accept it with thanks, and get rid of it quietly if it’s no use. Next time they may offer you just exactly what you’re looking for. Thanks for the good video! Les in UK

[@GarageHobbyist]

Good advice, and I agree! You need to be their go to person and make it easy for them to get rid of their stuff.

[@JourneyOnLife]

Yes. And not only that, it's good for the environment : )

[@crazygrady127]

That's no joke about the bed frames at apartments. When I lived in an apartment I got sooooo much angle from bed frames it's crazy. The angle is great for learning to weld, at least I think so. Also people set the strangest things next to the dumpster because they know people will use it for scrap or repurpose it. Apartment dumpsters for sure 👍

[@1978garfield]

BTW you can make a nice welding table from the top of an old table saw. There are some videos about that on YT.

[@GarageHobbyist]

That’s not a bad idea. The cast tops are pretty flat and strong.

[@jvazquez53]

Some of my favorite freebies found on the curbside "trash": Bed frames and exercise machines.

[@GarageHobbyist]

Absolutely. I love unlimited garbage days!

[@petewoodhead52]

Some good advice. I'm also a hobbyist welder. Through an acquaintance I purchased a used Millermatic 140 mig welder from a family owned welding shop. the owner is extremely nice and and offered me some of their cut off scrap metal to practice on. Also Metal Supermarket (not an ad) in my area has a metal cut off room with some reasonable prices.

[@GarageHobbyist]

Great tip! I’ve used Metal Supermarket before. They are great for small quantities. Their hours can make it hard to get there sometimes though.

[@frankish5314]

Keep an eye out for people giving away steel bedframes. Also treadmills.. There is a LOT of steel in a treadmill, not to mention DC motors with PWM controllers which are perfect for turning your cheap drill press into variable speed..:)

[@GarageHobbyist]

Good tips! I’m always on the lookout for electronics too.

[@mdsc314]

Thanks for the great advice. I go to the Alro retail store near me, and I’ve picked brackets and stuff from pallets here and there, but I wouldn’t have thought to look for truck fitters and trailer makers. Sounds like you’ve also made some cool art and projects. Thanks for sharing with the world.

[@GarageHobbyist]

Glad I could Help, Thanks for watching!

[@dwhallon21]

Good sound advice. Welders often build out of others junk or scrap

[@GarageHobbyist]

We will be revisiting this topic soon!

[@ww321]

I've been making stuff from free or almost free parts most of my life. . My hydraulic press is also made from recycled steel. I bought the jack and 2 extra springs. Thanks for making the video.

[@GarageHobbyist]

I’ll be doing a video finishing mine up soon. Unfortunately I started it before I started this channel. Thanks for watching!

[@cosmichasm]

Goodwill finds wasn't something I would have considered! 50% tags sometimes feel like a steal!

[@GarageHobbyist]

It can be a great source of material!

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Great video! Good to know as I'm just venturing into metal working. 👍👍

[@GarageHobbyist]

Thanks brother! Enjoy the ride!

[@JourneyOnLife]

You all are great! So nice to reuse scrap.

[@GarageHobbyist]

I try to use as much scrap as possible! Cheaper and keeps it out of the landfill.

[@CCxKiller13]

Sick shop press

[@GarageHobbyist]

Thanks! I’ll be doing a video on it soon when I finish it up and test it👍

[@gadgetsadventureemporium5015]

Another good resource is your neighborhood's facebook group. I occasionally put a post up asking for scrap electronics to practice and/or learn on. There are a TON of people with old stuff lying around that "works" so they don't want to throw it away but it's to rough, old or glitchy to donate. They LOVE being able to offload things especially if it's for a good cause :) I'm sure there are folks out there with partial metal shelving sets or half finished projects in their shed that they'd love to rehome.

[@GarageHobbyist]

Absolutely. I got a bunch of steel roof cut offs for a few dollars. I'm always checking marketplace for free or cheap things I can re-use!

[@donaldoehl7690]

Go to metal supply stores, fab shops, etc and ask if you can buy "drop". It's the bar-ends and odd cut outs. Often they'll let you pick through and get what you want.

[@FrustratedBaboon]

I have collected so many bed frames from my neighborhood that I have no room left in my house. Gotta start making something I can sell on a webstore to make some $$ as side cash.

[@GarageHobbyist]

I just used part of one as a frame for my welding cart 👌

[@michaelsrealm9365]

Bed frame became my plasma insert to my welding table. Hardened steel so use plasma cutter or cut off wheel. Be always on the lookout for scrap. This area it is highly competitive.

[@GarageHobbyist]

Nice, I am going to try and get started on mine this weekend.

[@awildacampbell3162]

I see some kitchen stuff I recognize! 😁

[@Nypthys-xp1ts]

damn thanks. i used to do some woodworking and now i wanna upgrade to "blacksmithing". it basically involves me with a concrete stair, a hammer and whatever scrap metal my parents say i can have. so far i have made some arrowheads but i ran out of scrap metal lmao

[@GarageHobbyist]

Look around at some DIY anvil ideas. Concrete and rock as an anvil can obviously get things done, but there are some low cost ideas for anvils that will work better.

[@Nypthys-xp1ts]

@@GarageHobbyist yes ive been wanted an anvil for a long time, thx for the idea

[@jasonholloway2476]

Good video. If you have an Alro steel near you, some of them have customer walk in sections where they have a selection of everything, and I mean everything, of drops and cuts and scrap pieces at a fraction of the price of the big box stores. I established a relationship with a mechanical contractor through work, their internal Fab shop has cuts and drops that they just throw away, I reach out to him every once in awhile and he gives me what would have been thrown in the dumpster. Everything from coupons, large sections of plate, angle, anything.

[@GarageHobbyist]

Sounds like you've got some pretty good sources!

[@jasonholloway2476]

@@GarageHobbyist just like you said in the video, establishing relationships!

[@JamesBrown-qn5lz]

Please do one on your press and PLEASE link sources on your Bottle jack parts ect. TY on this video as I am a beginner welder.

[@sekovittol3124]

Bed frame angle iron is strong, but it's brittle. If you spot a tossed hide-a-bed couch, get your hacksaw, they are a decent source of tubing and flat stock..

[@GarageHobbyist]

That’s good advice. Bed frames are great for certain projects, but sure can be a pain sometimes

[@sekovittol3124]

@@GarageHobbyist I made, remaking, building a mini-bike. I tacked the handlebars on for testing purposes, and after emerging from the bushes I seen that the welds held, but the bed frame angle iron let go at the welds. It looked very granular and probably a high carbon content? I find that odd, unless planned obsolesence, because some bed frames are under enormous stress at times.

[@jaime33912]

Great video!

[@GarageHobbyist]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulomarcandali5674]

Thanks 👍🏻🛠️

[@MRSketch09]

07:40 So... I've seen the tandem trailer axles on Semi trailers that slide back & forth along a rail... That looks like the rail those axles slide on... 08:08 Those look like those rings that go on REALLY OLD tires, to hold the tire in place.. again don't know if that's exactly what it is.. On the hand that you can't make anything from this stuff, at least you could haul it to the scrap yard & maybe make a few dollars off it all? Video was some general good advice for getting stuff to work on.. wouldn't the best advice be to go to a scrap yard though?

[@GarageHobbyist]

A scrapyard can be a good option, however in my area there aren’t any that let you walk around and pick stuff out. You’ll more than likely have to pay for it as well. I continue to find things in the trash that are free that I can repurpose. Whatever works is the best choice!

[@shawng7902]

We are replacing all the cabinets the steel shop has made since the 40s at work. Ive begged for a door off of 1. They refused and are going to pay to have it hauled off instead of selling it to me. We have monster cabinets built out of .250 steel plate. That 1 door will cost me $250 probably. Unless im standing there when it gets scrapped. Having to bribe someone isnt that expensive sometimes.

[@GarageHobbyist]

That's too bad. Some companies just don't see the benefit in letting their employees being able to put old stuff to use.

[@andrewhowe7398]

U found 2 goats walking down the road how much can I get from my local yard

[@GarageHobbyist]

I didn't find any goats. Why are you trying to sell your goats, brother?

[@ELECTRICEYE1776]

Is it me, or is the handle on that cabinet a 🐓and balls?

[@GarageHobbyist]

3D printed logo from the band Tool 😆