DIY materials | Want to Buy | Forum

Matt,  I'm not anywhere near Seattle, but just keep your eyes peeled, and never be too bashful to stop in and ask for the foreman at shops.  Usually bypass the secretary if possible when asking for free or cheap throwaway scrap.  Most mechanics hate to toss good materials, but cannot keep it all, so if they meet a brite guy who wants to use their scrap, they are often happy to let you dig in the scrap bin.  Just remember not to be too greedy, be polite, ask first, and much scrap will be yours.  Railroad shops often have rail sections around, also large other steel useable, Diesel truck shops, auto scrap yards (gotta pay here, but not much), Garage door shops sometimes will let you plunder their scrap bins for good new coil spring mtl. from garage door spring cut offs.  Outdoor pwr equipment repair shops have Oregon brand chainsaw bars which are 1050 steel which makes good large chopper type of knives, these are also scrap often as trees often pinch the saw bar and bend it, necessitating a new bar, thus leaving a good piece of steel for the bold asker.  Just explain what you are doing, your tight budget, and would they have any of this or that, they might let go, or charge a little for.  Talk to smiths here, or at conferences, or the learning center for other ideas to build cheap tools.  Craig's list wanted to buy: works for locating anvils, post vises, etc.  This is how many of us have "slowly" equipped our shops.  Auctions, garage sales etc. also help.  Good hunting!