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Steel & Industrial Material Buying Guides
How to specify dimensions, grades, finishes, quantities, processing and delivery requirements before requesting current pricing.
Guide library
Buying guides by product family
Use the guides to turn a project need into a cleaner, faster RFQ.
Buying guideAluminum & Stainless Buying GuideAluminum and stainless should be specified by alloy/grade, temper or condition where relevant, shape, dimensions, finish, quantity and fabrication requirements. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery fromOpen resource →Buying guideAluminum Buying GuideSpecify alloy and temper as well as shape and dimensions. 6061 and 6063, for example, are not interchangeable simply because both are aluminum.Open resource →Buying guideCommercial Chain-Link Fence Material Buying GuideA complete chain-link material takeoff includes fabric, line and terminal posts, top rail/framework, gates, fittings, tension components and security accessories. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery fromOpen resource →Buying guideCulvert Pipe Buying GuideCulvert selection starts with the engineered drainage requirement, diameter/span, material system, coating, length, end treatment and installation conditions. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery from Steel &Open resource →Buying guideFasteners & Anchors Buying GuideFasteners should be quoted from diameter, length, thread, grade/specification, head/style, finish and project approval requirements.Open resource →Buying guideGrating, Expanded Metal & Perforated Buying GuideOpen-area products must be specified by product style and opening/bearing geometry—not simply “grating” or “mesh.”Open resource →Buying guideHow to Build a Steel RFQA strong RFQ identifies exactly what the seller must price, source, process and deliver. Better specifications reduce requotes and substitution errors.Open resource →Buying guideHow to Buy Steel PipeChoose steel pipe by application, nominal size, wall/schedule, material specification, finish, length, quantity and processing requirements. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery from Steel & Pipe Supply.Open resource →Buying guidePipe, Valves & Fittings Buying GuidePVF orders are fastest when the request identifies service, material, pressure/class or schedule, connection type, size and exact component quantities. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery fromOpen resource →Buying guideRebar Buying GuideOrder rebar from the project bar list or drawings: bar size, grade, length/bend shape, quantity, coating and required accessories. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery from SteelOpen resource →Buying guideStainless Steel Buying GuideChoose stainless by grade, form, dimensions, finish and actual service environment. “Stainless” alone is not a complete material specification.Open resource →Buying guideSteel Bollard Buying GuideSpecify bollards by purpose, pipe diameter, wall/schedule, material/finish, above-grade height, embedment or base-plate design and cover requirements. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery from Steel & PipeOpen resource →Buying guideSteel Plate & Sheet Buying GuideBuy plate and sheet by grade/specification, decimal thickness or gauge convention, width, length, quantity, finish and processing—not by “steel sheet” alone.Open resource →Buying guideSteel Tubing & HSS Buying GuideTubing and HSS are specified by outside dimensions, wall thickness, material specification, length and fabrication needs. Pipe-style nominal sizing should not be substituted.Open resource →Buying guideStructural Steel Buying GuideBuy structural steel by translating drawings and project requirements into exact shapes, grades, dimensions, lengths, quantities and processing needs. Tampa-area buyers can request material, processing, pickup and delivery from SteelOpen resource →