304 SS

[KIDTech]

What is your cost on a 4'x8' sheet of 304 stainless 1/4", here it is $690. My issue is that the guy only needs 20 of the peices cut out totaling $205 and I rarely have anything needing to be cut from this material so I guess I am looking for thoughts and ideas as well from others experience with this kind of situation.

[_Ogre]

see if your supplier has a drop or buy 1/4''x6'' flat stock in any length you need or what ever width you need to fit the part

yes 304 ss is pricey
we cut a lot of 304 ss flanges for exhaust work, i typically lay the flanges out to cut out of 3/8''x5'' flat stock
but often we can get a drop that is 4 ft wide and what ever long

another good source is the scrap yard
when we drop off our scrap we look at what ever flat ss, alum or mild they have laying around
it sells for $1 per pound, no matter what material it is

[Shane Warnick]

If you can't find a drop, tell the customer how it is, and he can either furnish the material, or buy the whole sheet and take the leftovers with him. You can't cut it at a loss, nor can you store it for who knows how long and maybe use it. Someday. After you have moved it 1000 times and swore you would give it away. You may be able to purchase a drop from a competitor that does more stainless cutting, I can usually get aluminum and stainless drops from the laser shop that is about 45 miles away. I don't unless it's something like you are describing, and I will usually call and make arrangements then tell the customer to go get it and bring it to me I will cut it. They will always get a quote from the laser shop while they are there, and then they are more than happy to pay my prices. Now, I don't send them if they are looking for 2000 pieces, but then if they are looking for that I don't need a drop.

Shane

[Gamelord]

You can order flat bar stainless from Online Metals (call them for cheaper prices than what they have online and for longer pieces). For smaller runs it is a lot better price than buying an entire sheet - unless you will eventually use the whole sheet in a short time period.

[JEd]

PLT 304 HRAP .25 X 48 X 96 $439.1100

from my local steel supplier's online quote system.