Aircraft Aluminum Sources
The standards are Airparts, Spruce, Wicks, with Dillsburg the dark horse.
BUT, maybe you should buy locally. Extrusions and sheet stock over .032 can’t be rolled, it has to be crated, and shipping will be a major part of the expense.
Here are some local sources, used by homebuilder like you. Culled from newsgroups, and my own experience.
Atlanta, Georgia
Thanks to all for your
help in finding aluminum in the Atlanta area. I have found a great source just
north west of Atlanta that is about 25% less then Spruce & Specialty. Tina
is really nice to work with. Call or fax her for prices as it depends on
quantity. Tell her I said call, I need the points. LOL...Tom Hagan
Transtar Metals
4175 Royal Dr
Kennisaw Ga 30144
Tina Fountaine 770-499-1112
Fax 770-499-1134
http://www.transtarmetals.com/zcSite/Transtar/public/aerospace.html
North Carolina
<Try>
Gulfstream in Hampstead, NC. If your order is at least $1250, they will ship
direct from the mill in NY to you. My .025 was Kaiser and was
$59/sheet.
Think that works out to less than $3/lb. Packaging was outstanding. Phone 910
270-3278, fax 910 270-3279.
Note:
that’s a lot of aluminum, more than most plans built small planes, but I
suspect that the drop ship option is available from many other vendors.
Pennsylvania
Dillsburg Aeroplane is better known for steel tubing, but they also have aluminum sheet. No web page, but I’ve seen their price list posted on the web somewhere.
The Dillsburg
Aeroplane Works
Charles T. Vogelsong
114 Sawmill Road, Dillsburg, Pa 17019
Tel: 717/384-5865 Fax: 717/432-4589
Send 3 first class stamps for the price list.
Various Places
I don't recall seeing this mentioned on RAH before, but I just had a very
nice experience buying some aluminum angle.
I'm in the process of switching my plane to an Odyssey drycell battery
(thanks, Jerry!) and have to build a new battery box. I needed somealuminum angle for the interface to the cockpit floor. I'd gone to BoeingSurplus on Friday and gotten totally skunked...there was hardly a bit of
scrap metal to the place.
I was debating the usual Aircraft Spruce or Wick's order, but hated to
think of the shipping delay. I decided to check the local yellow pagesunder "Aluminum," and came up with a company called Metal Supermarkets.
Not only did they have it in stock, but it turned out one of the three
stores in the Seattle area was just a five-minute drive from work. Theprice was only a bit higher than Spruce, and, of course, I picked it up
immediately. Unlike most of the local metal stores, they have no minimumorder size...and they'll cut off just what you need at no extra charge.
Their web page is:
http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/
...if you want to check out whether they have a store near you. Theirselection isn't as wide (they only had 6061 and 6063 angle, no 2024), but
the one I was at did stock stuff like 2024 sheet and 304 stainless steel.
No connection, other than being happy I found what I needed and can butcher
it tonight... :-)
Ron Wanttaja
California, Oakland and Vallejo
Alco Iron and Metal very occasionally has suitable sheet, and they always stock extrusions at good prices. http://www.alcometals.com/default.htm
California, LA area
In Los Angeles, the equivalent is Industrial Metal Supply, locations at least in Irvine and Burbank. They're on the web. No 2024.
Even better, Max Industries in Gardena, and Burbank Metal Supplies (right next to the IMS in Burbank). Genuine surplus, about $2.50/lb.All grades, all shapes on a random basis.
Colorado
<anonymous>
will be buying my 6061-T6 from a company called Alreco:
Alreco
(aluminum surplus supply)
11299
Brighton Road
Henderson,
CO 80640
303-287-7210
They
mainly deal in used metals, but sell new (stamped) aluminum as well...
I got
a quote of $45 a sheet for 4'x12' 6061-T6 .024...
Another
plug:
Bob has the most complete and varied stock of aluminum I have ever seen. He has both new and recycled. Name the alloy and the shape an
Bob will likely have it. He doesn't mind small orders or cut-to-order. He
is glad to ship anywhere. His prices are quite good too.
Keep in mind that new is more expensive than recycled and that each cut costs you. Sometimes it is less expensive to buy twice as much to
avoid the cut charge, especially if you are buying recycled. If you are not
sure of the alloy you need, tell Bob what you plan to do and he will help
you pick out the alloy. If you are anywhere near by, it is worth the trip
just to see the place and to meet Bob.
Florida
I've heard equally good things about Future Metals Inc in Ft Lauderdale FL
from one of our chapter members. There are probably good vendors near most of us, but the cost is prohibitive
for most of them to advertise to the whole world.
Future Metals Inc
10401 State St
Tamarac, FL Phone: (954) 739-5350
Illinois
Mandel Metals – I’ve never dealt with them, and I did not find any unsolicited praise, but they do list surplus