How to Find Scrap Metal | Cheap or Free Metal for Your Projects

If you are beginning your metalworking or welding journey, you may be wondering where to get metal on the cheap.

Often times big box and farm supply stores want premium dollar for the new metal they sell. Many metal suppliers require a minimum order amount, or only sell metal in full lengths. Unfortunately, the cost of these options can add up quickly, especially when you want to practice and build your skill.

In this Instructable, we will go over some places to look for usable metal for your projects. While you may not be able to always get metal for free, it will definitely be cheaper than buying new metal from a store.

Tools required will depend on the source of your metal. Some handy, but not required, tools are:

• Cordless Drill
• Cordless Angle Grinder
• Cut Off Wheels
• Gloves
• Safety Glasses

Salvage yards, if you are lucky enough to have some near you, are an obvious choice for cheap metal. While not free, salvage yards often have a wide variety of used metal to choose from.

Often times salvage yards sell metal for just above scrap value by the pound. You can get a lot of metal inexpensively.

Fabrication and Machine shops can be a great source of cheap metal. This one may be free, or may cost a couple bucks

Fab shops often have "drop" piles or bins. Drops are pieces left over from whatever project the shop is working on. Think of it as cut-offs in woodworking.

Go into the shop when it is slow, introduce yourself, and explain you are learning to weld and are looking for some drops to practice with and make a couple projects in your garage. DO NOT hint at making anything you will sell. People don't like to hear you are going to make money off of their garbage.

Don't assume the drops will be free. Offer to purchase them or buy lunch, but you may get lucky and not have to pay at all. Be respectful and courteous. They are running a business and don't owe you anything.

The hydraulic press shown in the photo above is made entirely of free scrap metal. The only things purchased were the bottle jack, one bolt, and the pins that adjust the bed height.

In most areas, once garbage is put to the curb it is fair game, and FREE. Driving around the night before garbage pick up can yield a lot of metal. The key to a successful haul is thinking outside the box.

Let me explain: You are most likely not going to find random steel scraps out at the curb (although I have!).

You are going to have to look for things made from metal being thrown away.

Good Examples are:

• Shelving Units
• Filing Cabinets
• Bed Frames
• Metal Chairs and Tables
• Metal Desks
• Appliances (Washers, Dryers, Etc)

There are many more things to be on the look out for, But this will get you going in the right direction. You need to picture what makes up the metal objects you find, and what you can break them down into. For example, bed frames are made of angle iron, washers and dryers have sheet metal panels, chairs and table legs are made of steel tubing, and so on.

Make sure you DO NOT leave the homeowner a mess to clean up.

Thrift stores and garage sales can offer the same type of items you would find in the garbage, but you will obviously have to pay for whatever you want.

What a thrift store or garage sale can be good for are small items used in scrap metal art. Silverware is usually cheap, my local thrift store offers it for 10 cents each. Other things to look out for are candle holders, coat racks, and other kitchen utensils. These can be chopped up or incorporated in scrap metal art.

Garage and Estate sales can be gold mines for things like screws, nails, and other small bulk items to use in metal sculptures.

Make deals on multiple items, and go on the last day of the sale for the best deals.

I can't say it loud enough: LET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!

People you know know people you don't. Let that sink in.

Your friends and family may know the guy at the fab shop and get you in touch. Aunt Betty may be throwing out a metal shelving unit you could use. Your neighbor Steve may work somewhere that throws out metal.

Let people know you are looking for things and you will be surprised at what connections you can make.

Just be sure if somebody is giving you something, you go pick it up in a reasonable amount of time. They want to get rid of it, so you need to go get it out of their way.

The video above re iterates and expands on what is covered in this Instructable, and also shows some of the projects I have used scrap metal for.

Scrap metal is everywhere, cheap or even free. You just need to have the willingness to get out there and look for it, or make the connections required to obtain it.

Keep an open mind and you will soon have a nice big scrap pile to go to when you feel like making something amazing.