Got the Steel Today for the Boxcar

[bdosborn]

I picked up my steel today. They were out of the 2x3x1/8 for the tongue so I'll have to go back for that.


I've got the wheels and flexiride axle ready to go.


And so it begins....
Bruce

P.S. Here's a closer view of the wheels. They sure are shiney!


P.P.S. The hitch cover is from Cherokee George...

[mb82]

Nice. Might I ask where you got the steel. Did you have to go to a machine shop or do you have a steel supply house out there.

[bdosborn]

I went to Den Col, a steel supply company in Denver. They were pretty easy to work with. They carry steel in 24' sticks. You get one free cut with each stick and each additional cut is $1.50. I basically had them just cut everything in half. Here's a copy of the receipt:



I'm building a 12'x6.5' trailer and the steel is $280. I should have had them do all the cuts but I'd already bought a cut off saw.

Bruce

[Leon]

I should have had them do all the cuts but I'd already bought a cut off saw.

Bruce

I've found some of the steel yards are not real accurate when cutting for a walk-in customer. I usually get it cut a little long and trim to exact dimension if I go to pick it up, but usually have them deliver. The nearest yard is 90 miles away and they deliver free - sure beats me spending the time and gas to get it myself.

[bdosborn]

Den Col would have delivered but they require that you have a forklift on site. I had to pass on the delivery. But Christmas is coming up..

Bruce

P.S. I'd heard that cuts can be a problem too but Den Cols have been right on. I watched them cut some stock while I was there. They had a cutoff saw that was about 4' in diameter.

[mb82]

Ok.

I am surprised about shops not being able to cut right unless they have someone who does not know how to do math at the machine. Back when I worked at the machine shop I was not allowed to do any cuts until I proved I knew the formula that was used at the saw which includes adding in the width of the blade for the cut and the fact that the machine was so old it was 10% off in length

[asianflava]

The place I got my steel from charged $5 to cut it, as many cuts as you wanted. I pretty much had them cut out my whole trailer. They cut it on a vertical bandsaw and were as accurate as you'd get at Home Depot. I had them cut them a little bit long so I could miter them when I got to the shop.

[bdosborn]

Rocky,

That's the way to do it, that way all the pieces are the right length. I've got a couple of pieces I cut too short. But, I always buy a little extra so I'm still alright.
Bruce

[Steve F]

Steel is the one thing I seem to have no problems getting with a couple of local places. They also cut it with a bandsaw (or guillotine for the plate steel) and are very accurate, better than I am with a guide and a 1mm cutoff disc in the grinder

Oh, and they are nice wheels

Cheers
Steve

[doug hodder]

Looking forward to watching your build Bruce...gonna have it for the IRG2? Doug

[bdosborn]

Doug,

That's the plan for now. We'll see how fast this build goes...

Steve F

Thanks, I like them too...

Bruce

[asianflava]

You've got wind and solar on the other one, is this one gonna be nuclear?

[bdosborn]

Rocky,

This one will have wind, solar, propane and diesel heat. I'm cramming everything I can in it!
Bruce