[ausev] EV Bulding Supplies

[Chris Robison]

John Blankenship wrote:
> Dustin,
> 
>   Westbrook Metals on Lamar used to have a pretty good sized "scrap pile"
> that people could pick from and get what was close to scrap pricing
> (although I had to pay $4.00/lb. today when I bought 735 pounds of plate at
> scrap pricing for my shop today). If your design is flexible this may save
> you some money. They also are fairly good priced at getting you exactly what
> you ask for.

There's also CMC Metal Recycling on Howard near Metric. You literally 
walk around mountains of scrap metal, fishing out what you want, and you 
buy it by weight.  They also sell new (unused) steel in a variety of 
sections and sizes. Prices were a little better than Westbrook last time 
I used them, but their new steel had a very heavy mill scale that I 
found a lot more annoying to grind than what's on Westbrook's.


>   As to someone to fabricate, I am one of those that is very interested in a
> project of my own, but not yet at a point where I can begin. Therefore, I'd
> be happy to cut parts and such for you (I have machining availabilty) just

At some point I learned of a local small-time metal cutting shop, 
basically a "guy with a waterjet" who reportedly had very good prices 
and good turnaround times. I have since lost that lead, and nothing in 
the yellow pages looks familiar -- does anyone know of such a business 
in the area?  I would rather find a small operation than fork over huge 
bucks to a big shop like Austin Waterjet.


> pushes the contaminants out of the weld continually. While MIG welding won't
> be the pretiest weld you can get on aluminum like TIG would be, doesn't
> everyone have a TIG unit in their garage.

If anyone has anything small they need TIG welded, you're welcome to 
stop by on Saturday afternoons and use the TIG unit in my garage  :o) 
It's 180A, inverter-based with pulse, balance and frequency control; 
does pretty well on aluminum (to the limit of my skill, anyway) and of 
course it's great on steel.  I also have a portable, battery-powered MIG 
welder that works pretty well, though I have yet to use it on aluminum.

   --chris