Eiffel 101: Should You Purchase New, Used, or Surplus Beams?

Used steel beams are beams that have been pre-used and are being resold for further application. Surplus steel beams are beams that were made in excess. New, used and surplus steel all have advantages and disadvantages. While used and surplus wide flange and H-pile beams are cheaper than new beams (and can be used in many of the same ways), there are some instances where the integrity of the used steel makes it unsuitable, and therefore new steel should be used instead.

The Difference Between New, Used and Surplus Steel

New or “prime” steel is one of the most commonly used products in the steel industry, and each year millions of tons of steel are manufactured and sold around the world. Used and surplus steel, on the other hand, does not come directly from the manufacturer but rather from a job site or other location where it’s been used before, or was left over from a prior project.

It’s a common misconception that surplus steel must be dirty or old, but this isn’t the case. Often, surplus steel is brand new (such as in cases where excess steel is left over from another project) or like-new. Similarly, new steel might be resold as surplus in instances where the steel was ordered but rejected on site due to incorrect length or size.

Price Between New, Used and Surplus Beams

Cost is an important factor to consider when determining whether to purchase new, used or surplus beams. As expected, used wide flange and H-pile beams will cost less than new beams due to the fact that they’ve been used before. Used beams might start at around $0.30/pound, while new beams can cost many times that amount. Similarly, surplus steel is less expensive than similar new products, even if they are about the same quality. Surplus steel might have minor defects or slight corrosion from being stored, but it will generally have plenty of useable life left. In addition, geographic region can affect the price of new steel beams. For example, a mill on the west coast may have higher prices than one on the east coast due to their market.

Custom Rolling Options vs. Stock Beams

For many projects, standard stock beam sizes will be sufficient, as these cover the needs of most jobs. For example, H-piles are commonly available in 8", 10", 12", and 14" lengths. For projects that require beams of this size, there is no need to go the custom manufacturing route; you can instead purchase stock beams to fit your needs. Similarly, the option to purchase surplus beams is still available, since it is more likely that surplus beams will come in the sizes required.

Some unique projects, however, require sizes that do not fit into the standard stock size range. In these instances, custom rolled wide flange or H-pile beams might be necessary. In order to manufacture a custom rolled beam, new steel will need to be used. Typically, it is more expensive to buy custom rolled beams, both because the steel that must be purchased for the project is new, and also because the project is custom.

BUY AND SELL WITH EIFFEL TRADING

Eiffel Trading is now offering NEW steel h pile, wide flange beams, and steel plates at a low price! Stock items and custom rollings are both available with coast-to-coast shipping. Interested in getting a quote? Call 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com today and a member of our expert sales team will assist you.