how do i find out the cost of stainless steel plate and sheet metal?

Question

and more specifically is there a metal merchant who can supply all sorts of marine quality stainless steel? ie angle iron, tube, plate, sheet etc the idea is to buyild a hull in stainless if possible intead of low carbon steel.

Answer 1

Any quality steel supplier can get you what you want if they really want to cooperate. Stainless in the plate thickness you want may be hard to come by for a couple of reasons. Have you ever seen a stainless hulled boat or ship, no because the cost is prohibitive and a long lasting vessel can be built of steel or aluminum. With modern coatings steel will last many many years and so will aluminum. If you know how to MIG weld you know that stainless is much harder to weld than either steel or aluminum. I have built 2 steel vessels and think thats the way to go. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 2

These can be bought anywhere. You should provide the nearest major city if you expect an answer.

Or, the classified pages of Cruising World magazine has one manufacturer that advertises every month to ship these products anywhere in the world.

Most people with the skills necessary to fabricate a stainless hull have knowledge of metal working and fabrication. This would generally include vendors.

My prediction is your dream hull will never be built.

Answer 3

Generally speaking, there is no problem welding mild steel to stainless steel, we do it all the time when building ASME pressure vessels. You can use SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, GTAW and SAW with great results. For welding the more common T-304 or T-316 to mild steel you can use a 309 or 310 wire/rod. When welding higher grades like 321, 347 or high nickel material like Inconel, you may need to do some research to find the correct rod or wire/gas combo. Good luck.

Answer 4

Brand:YSW STEEL
Material: Q195,Q235B,Q345B,S355JOH,S355J2H
Standard: EN10210 EN10219 EN10204 etc.
Width: 2000mm-4800mm
Length: 3000mm-25000mm
Thickness: 8mm-3000mm
ETD: 30DAYS FATRE RECEIVE THE PREPAYMENT
FOB Port: XINGANG ,RIZHAO,QINGDAO,ZHANGJIAGANG
Packing : Standard for Export

Answer 5

Look in the yellow pages under sheet metal workers or steel stockist

Answer 6

this is going to be expensive. welding stainless takes skills that are above average in welding. and one metal may be heavier than the other. if you considered that. good luck with your hull

Answer 7

a quick serach revelaed:
http://www.sea-screw.co.uk/
but not plate.
A steel stock holder would be a good bet.
http://www.pulmans.co.uk/

These sites were found searching Yahoo - I have no experience of these vendors.

Answer 8

call a local steel supplier