Retail Steel yard:
9/20/01 1"x1" 20' $17.00 (lower frame)
1/8 x 1 1/2 flat 6' $5.40 (tabs)
10/8/01 3/16 x 1 1/2 flat 6' $3 (steering, various)
1"x1" 10' $8.50 (frame)
2"x1" 6' $16.80 (trunion)
1/21/02 4' x 8' plate of expanded steel $23 (foot pads - a lifetime supply)
1/4" plate $5 (engine mount)
Steel surplus yard:
9/22/01 3/4 tubing 11lbs $4 (rear bumper)
12/21/01 tubing 4lbs $2
1/2" pipe 21' $18 (upper frame/seat frame)
Welding store:
12/14/01 3/4 x 4' round rod $8 (steering)
1 1/2" x 1/4" flat 8' $12 (trunion U bolts, various)
3/23/02 2" x 2" 16 gauge plate $17 (chainguard, control panel, battery box)
Special order:
9/24/01 3/4 x .058 4130 tube $2.55 a foot x 12 + $25 shipping = $55 (A-arms)
Hardware store:
11/11/01 steel rod $3
We also paid sales tax.
Yes, we did buy some extra in each catagory to account for mistakes, etc. Yes, we overpaid for some items, especially at the welding store. Yes, we have enough expanded metal for about 20 ATVs worth of footpads - however, we had trouble locating expanded metal in small quantities, and the welding store wanted almost as much for a 2' piece as we paid for the 8' piece.
Bottom line - steel is still one of the smaller expenses on this project, and it was worth it to us to pay a little more to avoid the hassles involved in finding just the right piece.
