Quantity
You need to establish how much steel you need. This will affect how quickly you can get it based on what is already in stock with a vendor. If a supplier is low on inventory of A572 grade 50 steel, you may have to wait days or weeks for your order to be fulfilled. This is something you need to know up front so you can set deadlines within your project. You don’t want to place an order assuming it’s in stock when it will take two weeks to get to your place of business.
Measure and spend some time determining the total amount. It will make it easier to place an order and receive everything you need within a desired period of time. Placing an order in advance will also make it easier for a supplier to meet their deadlines.
Prices
The price of steel is commonly based on supply and demand. Additionally, providers will set their own prices based on a number of factors. You want to make sure you’re working with a provider known for competitive pricing. You should also be ready to negotiate your price based on how much you plan to order, as well as how often you order.
The only way to know if a supplier is competitive with their prices is to get some comparison prices. Contact three or four suppliers to request A572 Grade 50 steel in the same quantity from all. Be sure to get a quote in writing. Once you have the quotes in hand, you can see what you can get from each provider.
Quality
Although A572 steel has already been classified as grade 50, you still need to make sure you buy quality steel. This means taking the time to read about the features, how the metal has been treated, and other details. You may also want to do a Charpy test to find out more about how brittle it is.
The quality will be on you in the end. If the tensile load isn’t what he thought and something breaks, you can no longer blame the supplier because he didn’t do the necessary testing. Steel is affordable, but it’s important to check the quality so you don’t end up wasting your money.
Ultimately it is up to you where you buy your steel. You want to find a supplier you can build a long-term relationship with so you can buy steel with confidence. Although it may take a bit longer to research providers, it will be worth it in the end.