Steel angles and channels for a home project

Can anyone advise a source for models of standard, small ( 2" to 5" ish )
steel channels and angles.
We dont use these at work, so we dont have toolbox etc.
google produces a universe of vendors, but so far I havnt stumbled on any
dimensions good enough to design with
Thanks

 

If you're just looking for steel structurals, then just browse to
www.mcmaster.com. Or obtain a Tull/Ryerson catalog. Or an O'Neal
catalog. The dimensions are all there for stock products.

If you're looking for a small cross-section alternative to steel
structural shapes try 80/20 (www.8020.net) or Item (www.itemamerica.com)
for aluminum extrusions. Aluminum extrusions of such types are more
expensive than steel structurals, but they provide easy and adjustable
mounting options (with T-nuts) that steel structurals can't. And they
give you cross sections that you can use to extrude whatever lengths you
want.

'Sporky'

 

For a home project, I would be inclined to "fake it"!
If you still insist on the utmost accuracy, here is a link to $40 software
that has the full range of sections. They also seem to have a 30 day free
demo available.
http://www.southforktech.com/shapebook.htm
Other alternatives would be a strength of materials textbook or Machinerys
Handbook. If you don't have Machinerys now, you should get a copy just for
general principles!

 

Item have a CD ROM with an utility to produce their sections in SLDPRT file
format to build up frames - pretty cool from the little I've played with it.