Online Metals Blog

You know those old candy bar commercials: Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t?

Well…I  think of those commercials from time to time, when I’m helping customers order metal. Sometimes they want a lot, some times they don’t.

With the candy, it didn’t mater which you were craving. You just got one from that brand, and you knew the chocolate would be good.

The same thing applies to ThyssenKrupp. (That’s the OnlineMetals parent company.) No matter what the material or quantity…we’ve got you covered.

Sometimes you feel like a lot…

Sometimes you don’t…

Either way…you’ll get exactly what you need, from a company you can trust.
…and hey! As you can tell by this blog…we’re all kind of nuts!

So go back to the homepage to begin ordering small quantities. Custom cuts. Lengths less than full sheet, and less than full bar.
Or you can call our sister company, Copper and Brass Sales for those larger quantity items. Multiple 12 foot lengths. 5,000 lbs of something. You name it, they’ve got it.
Not sure who you should talk to? Give us a call. (800) 704-2157 We’re happy to help, and committed to getting you the best service and price.

Our friends over at S G Machine shared with us some of the beautiful things they make with OnlineMetals Materials!

From hangers and stands…

to Screens and Wall Art…

These guys know what they’re doing.

We’re proud to have them as a customer and a partner!

Our MakerFaire booth shared a wall with the Stout Tool booth in Austin, and the OnlineMetals team became fast friends with the guys next door.

But that’s not how I first heard about Stout Tool.

My dad manages a bindery in Oregon, and talked about this bright green cordless saw thing that everyone in the warehouse uses. It was a band saw…that you could CARRY!

What what what??? I had to have one! How cool would that be!

Being a major tom boy who practically collects 18V power tools…I had to learn more about the cordless band saw that came with it’s own table, and stowed away neatly and safely in my tool closet.

And wouldn’t you know…we ended up right next to them at MakerFaire.

Well, I now that I’ve learned more, I think that the OLMers should know about Stout Tool Corp. Outstanding product, sold by some really fun guys.

See you in California for the next MakerFaire, Stout!

We’d like to introduce you to one of our neighbors in the Show Barn at Austin MakerFaire 2008.

The Dallas Personal Robotics Group (DPRG), founded in June of 1984, is one of the nation’s oldest special interest groups dedicated to the development and use of personal robotics.

In addition to monthly meetings the DPRG holds robot competitions, monthly group workshops, and informal weekly lunch meetings.

This is one of their featured robots.

We’re proud to be associated with their organization, and hope to share many more robot creations built with OnlineMetals metals and plastics!

Because we have a new partner. Who has features you can actually TUNE IN TO!!!

It all started in the lobby of the Austin, TX Radisson.

Our hero, John had snoozed through his alarm!

The rest of the OLMers had gone to MakerFaire…with plans to pick John up later.

But wait! Who’s that!?! It’s the team from YouGizmos.com

They haven’t left for the fair yet, and they have room in the car!

A few minutes later, everyone’s in the car, and learning about the companies they represent.

When John arrived at the fair, he let all of the OLMers know about his new friends, and the amazing opportunity to create a partnership!

OnlineMetals sells metal and plastics.

You Gizmos is devoted to the art of concept practice.
It could be a strange new mechanism, a huge boat, a miniature steam engine. It can be a trebuchet, a sling shot for water balloons or a clock that runs on buckets of sand, or even a potato launcher. It’s the act of thinking of something new as well as rendering it in wood, metal, plastic, ice, you name it. You Gizmos is for serious artisans that have studied their craft for decades, as well as those who are just getting into the game. On You Gizmos you can see and download CAD drawings, part files, papers on techniques of all manners and for more.

THESE TWO COMPANIES SHOULD DEFINITELY WORK TOGETHER!!!

So, if you haven’t already heard of them, please click here to browse the various categories, videos, downloads and various other parts of their site.

The entire OnlineMetals team invites you to stay tuned as we launch joint video campaigns with our new friends at YouGizmos.com, create and sell kits for the projects mentioned on their site, and much much more.

Dobstuff.com has been using our aluminum tube as supports for their telescopes for years.

They’ve recently joined our affiliate program, which allows them to point their customers to specific sizes of aluminum tube through direct links on their website.

We love their work, and are really happy to have them as an affiliate.

When John first opened OnlineMetals, he knew how important it would be to partner with great companies in the metals industry.

One of the first relationships he made was with LittleMachineShop.com, the premier source of tooling, parts, and accessories for bench top machinists.

They carry a huge variety of products, and we send people their way whenever we can. When Little Machine Shop customers ask about raw metals and plastics, guess who they’re referred to!

It’s great partnerships like these, that allow us to be a RESOURCE to our customers as well as a metals supplier.

Whether you’re new to metal working, or an old pro, consider Little Machine Shop next time you’re in the market for parts, accessories, CNC tools and more!

In 2 weeks, we’ll be at the Austin Texas MakerFaire. If you’re there too, please stop by. It’ll be a lot of fun. Lots of fun, hand outs, and HUGS FROM CHRIS!!! (We haven’t told him yet…)

Anyway, Make Magazine is such a great quarterly magazine! We subscribe, and we want all of our customers to have the chance to subscribe.

The thing is…as the Marketing Director…I want to do more than just offer it at retail price. I think our customers deserve more! Luckily John, Chris, and the folks over at Make Magazine agree.

So buy raw metals, plastics, and/or composites from us, and get a HUGE discount on your subscription! I’d give exact numbers, but blogs come up in a google search, and we want the price to stay exclusive to OLM customers.

It’s worth it though…so check it out! Just place your order, and add a subscription in Step 3 of 5 in your checkout. On the basket page! If you forget, or want to add it to an existing order, just call us.

Our Affiliate

was kind enough to include us in their blog.

This kind of networking, word of mouth advertising,and relationship building is what has made OnlineMetals and Baer Marketing the companies we are today! You know that OnlineMetals is the company for small quanties of metals, plastics, and composites. Now check out Baer Marketing, offering website design and B2B Internet marketing for manufacturing related companies, contractors, small service oriented companies, professional businesses and a variety of other companies.

Here’s the blog entry:

Small Quantity Metal Orders

Posted: 02 Sep 2008 12:15 PM CDT
Have you ever had a project or a prototype where you needed just a small bit of some kind of steel rod or plate? How about a small quantity of sheet metal or even structural steel? Whether the project is at work or home, Baer Marketing has a solution for you!

As you know, most steel service centers won’t mess around with small quantity orders. They’re especially not ready to ship small quantities.

But at OnlineMetals, no order is too small. Since 1998, OnlineMetals has specialized in orders for less than full bars and less than full sheets, plus they carry a variety of materials rivaled only by the largest metal service centers. Whether you need tool steel, hot or cold rolled steel, titanium, plastics, nickel alloys, and even carbon fiber, they have them in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Plus, they’ll cut your order to your specs.

And all of the information you’ll need is online, including pricing and shipping costs. With years of experience in shipping small quantity metal orders, OnlineMetals knows how to package and efficiently ship your order.

So check out OnlineMetals today and bookmark their site for your future reference! And be sure to forward this message to any friends or colleagues that might find this useful as well!

Outstanding post. Thanks again!

…building some seriously awesome things together!

OK, if you haven’t heard of Make Magazine, here’s your chance to learn about a really cool periodical.

Have you ever wondered how to turn Grandma’s old toaster into a soldering iron?

Ever wished for better, more interesting reading material in office waiting rooms, and at home?

Are you, right now, thinking ”Hmmm, I’m going to be in Austin Texas on October 18th and 19th, 2008. What should I do?”

(We’ll be there!)

Or, are you doing what I think you’re doing? Wondering what Amber, the OnlineMetals Director of Marketing is planning to build for her next super awesome arts and crafts project.

Well then go to http://makezine.com/ and meet our friends at Make! They’ll show you how to custom build strange, exotic, wonderful, and useful gadgets and gizmos…and if you’ve built one of your own, they’ll let you brag about it on their BLOG.

Now, if you’re wondering where to get your materials. …well…ahem…I bet you know where I’m going to send you.

If it’s something other than metal, you really should check out their Maker Shed Store! DIY Kits, Tools, Books, and Fun!!! 

As for me, I should get back to work. I’ll probably end up back at Makeazine.com, because it’s really addictive, but if you see my boss …tell him I’m working!

Thanks,

Amber