Stainless Steel Plate Source

[Scott Shepherd]

Not eatin' plates, but engraving plates. I'm looking for some 4" x 6" stainless plates to mark with Cermark as a sample. I've looked at McMaster, can't find anything like that. I've looked at idplates.com and they have a $75 minimum. I just need 6 of them, so I'm not in the ball park for that, and it's just a sample to show a potential customer for something I think will work well for them. Not looking to break the bank on a sample.

I know I can go to a machine shop or sheet metal shop, but that takes more time than I have right now. Anyone know a good source with no (or low) minumums. Also, can't have any poly coating on it, since it will be Cermarked.

I've searched through a couple of years worth of threads on this, saw a similar question asked several times, but no real good online sources for it. I'm hoping someone on here has found a good source since then.

Thanks!

[Angus Hines]

MCMaster would be good for just a few to do up as samples....But I'm sure they would be to high for a production run of something.

Awaiting the smarter people to answer.

[Scott Shepherd]

Angus, I can't find anything in McMaster that fits the bill. I love McMaster for having everything, but hate them for having a crappy search. They may very well have exactly what I want, but darned if I can find it. Searching under Stainless Steel, sheet metal, etc. brings up the raw material. Not sure what to call it to get into the smaller items.

[pete hagan]

http://www.metalsupermarkets.com

Try this place. NOT the cheapest but they usually have most metals in stock.

Pete

[Angus Hines]

Try this link it has all the sizes just pick and choose.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel/=mlygc

.

[Doug Griffith]

I prefer McMaster but "The Big Book" by MSC has a large variety of industrial items.

http://www.mscdirect.com

I actually think McMaster has a great searching system considering the scope of items they carry.

Cheers,
Doug

[Scott Shepherd]

Try this link it has all the sizes just pick and choose.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel/=mlygc

.

Angus, I don't have a shear, and all those are raw materials in sheet formats. I can't find anything under 12" x 12". Am I missing something?

[Dave Johnson29]

I'm looking for some 4" x 6" stainless plates to mark with Cermark as a sample.

Here's a couple to try...

http://www.allmetalsinc.com/
http://www.onlinemetals.com/
http://www.industrialmetalsupply.com/

If you are near an Industrial Metals place they have tons of stuff cut up in their showroom. I am addicted to visiting that place. Last time I ordered $70 worth of aluminum, went to pick it up and finished up with a bill for $190 and boxes of stuff in the truck. :eek: :rolleyes:

[Scott Challoner]

Do they have to be 4x6? McMaster does have 3x5 plates. Six of them would be about $22. Type in catalog page 1918 in their search box.

[Scott Shepherd]

Don't have to be 4" x 6", but all those on page 1918 have holes in them, which won't work for what I need to do.

I've ordered them from one of the places Dave linked to. Great great resources there Dave! Thanks for sharing them.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help.

[Dave Johnson29]

I've ordered them from one of the places Dave linked to. Great great resources there Dave! Thanks for sharing them.


My pleasure to give something back to the 'Creek, and remember you have been warned, stay away from Industrial Metals!! Visits can be habit forming. ;) :D

[Angus Hines]

Just another idea Scott.

Grainger Stainless Stock Page (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?from=Search&newSrch=yes&operator=keywordSearch&search_type=keyword&action=Go!&QueryString=Stainless+steel+plate&submit.x=0&submit.y=0)

I know you have a Grainger close by-ish.

.

[Gary Hair]

I know I can go to a machine shop or sheet metal shop, but that takes more time than I have right now.

In the amount of time it took to search through all the threads you mentioned and the time it took to post and reply here, you probably could have found a local shop to cut them for you. I have a shop that I met for that very reason, some sample pieces, and they have been a great referral source for me as well as a vendor. They do a lot of cutting for industrial clients and generally have enough waste material from those jobs that they don't even charge me for the material, just for their time to laser cut.

Take the time to find someone and you may end up with way more than you bargained for!

Gary

[Scott Shepherd]

In the amount of time it took to search through all the threads you mentioned and the time it took to post and reply here, you probably could have found a local shop to cut them for you.

Not hardly, I had 2 machines running while I was searching online. If I had to stop, go meet them, I would have lost production time I don't have to lose right now. I do agree, I need a good local who will do it. If I can ever get out from behind the 8 ball, It's on my list of things to do.

[Mike Null]

Steve
Try Engraving Specialties.

http://www.engravingspecialties.net/

[Gary Hair]

Not hardly, I had 2 machines running while I was searching online. If I had to stop, go meet them, I would have lost production time I don't have to lose right now. I do agree, I need a good local who will do it. If I can ever get out from behind the 8 ball, It's on my list of things to do.

I like to meet people like that in person, but you could start with a phone call to get a price from them. Explaining that you are buried and can't get out to meet them but want to stay with a local vendor will go a long way to starting a relationship with them. Whatever quantity you need, order an extra and drop it off to them when you get time.

Gary

[Bill Cunningham]

Yup.. And if you read them your credit card over the phone, they could probably stick it in a taxi for you.. The shipping cost would probably be the same, stainless is heavy..

[laura passek]

Here in Canada our engraving supliers usualy have everything you might need.
I recently bought a 12 x 24 sheet of engraving SS for around 20 bucks.It is Lighter than sheet metal SS you would get from a metal shop.
You could have them cut it to your size requirements and have it shipped to you.


www.engraversexpress.com
Order line - 1-800-663-1149.
They are an epilog dealer as well.
I am not associated to them just a customer.
Good luck

[Brian Robison]

I've got a local place that cut some for me while I waited the other day! I checked the dimensions when I got back and they were within a couple thou. 3x5 and 2x5 and they charged me $2.50 each.

[Steven Wallace]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#metal-engraving-tags/=365c6o

Try this page and see if it is something you can use.

[Scott Shepherd]

Thanks Steve, that was ages ago when this was posted. McMaster was one of the first places I looked. Found a place online that cut them all to size and shipped them quickly.

Now, I'm in the market for a stomp shear so I can cut my own metal. Tired of paying others to do it for me.

[Mike Null]

Get one with a good finger guard. I came within a gnat's eyelash of amputating a couple of mine using a foot shear without a guard or safety device.