# I need a custom piece of metal made. Who do I call? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022 "2017-10-05T14:18:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/1 "2017-10-05T14:18:06Z")
It doesn’t have to be metal I guess. I’m just trying to get a simple piece made that inserts into a small (unused) space under the radio in my truck. (The piece will be used as a phone mount). So who do I call? Just look up “metal shop” on the Google? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/2 "2017-10-05T14:28:05Z")
I’d look up machine shop, but you’ve got the general idea. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/3 "2017-10-05T14:33:59Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So who do I call? Just look up “metal shop” on the Google? I’m certain that would work. There are online machining-by-mail shops like [https://www.emachineshop.com/](https://www.emachineshop.com/) or [http://www.stainlesssolutionscip.com/](http://www.stainlesssolutionscip.com/) that could probably help you (the second one will make a single piece, IDK about the first). Know anyone with a 3D printer? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/4 "2017-10-05T14:38:12Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’m certain that would work. > > There are online machining-by-mail shops like [https://www.emachineshop.com/](https://www.emachineshop.com/) or [http://www.stainlesssolutionscip.com/](http://www.stainlesssolutionscip.com/) that could probably help you (the second one will make a single piece, IDK about the first). Thank you. > [@](#): > > Know anyone with a 3D printer? I wish. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/5 "2017-10-05T14:44:58Z")
I just found out that [some UPS Store locations have 3D printing services](https://www.theupsstore.com/print/3d-printing). Staples runs a [3D printing service](https://3dservices.staples.com/en/) as well. I’m WAGing either will be cheaper than a custom metal shop. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/6 "2017-10-05T15:25:15Z")
My local libraries are starting to get into the 3D printing game. The main library in Akron has a whole “maker lab” and one of the branches has 3D printing too. Check your library! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/7 "2017-10-05T15:27:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I just found out that [some UPS Store locations have 3D printing services](https://www.theupsstore.com/print/3d-printing). Staples runs a [3D printing service](https://3dservices.staples.com/en/) as well. > > I’m WAGing either will be cheaper than a custom metal shop. I think those UPS Store or Staples 3D printing services would need a file that they can use to feed the machine. But a good local metal shop should be able to work off a sketch or a description of what you need. So that might be cheaper and simpler in the end. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/8 "2017-10-05T15:27:57Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I just found out that [some UPS Store locations have 3D printing services](https://www.theupsstore.com/print/3d-printing). Staples runs a [3D printing service](https://3dservices.staples.com/en/) as well. > > I’m WAGing either will be cheaper than a custom metal shop. Do they have any useful design software available? I’ve thought up a couple of small items that would help out in my job if I could get them made, but haven’t been sure on how to go about that. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/9 "2017-10-05T18:14:51Z")
a full-blown machine shop may charge a lot, unless they’ve got an intern or newbie they can hand the job to. You might get a better price if you talk to a car customization shop. Barring that, if it’s a very simple piece, talk to a neighbor or colleague with skills/tools, and see if they’d be willing to do it for the price of a nice lunch or dinner. Most hobbyists don’t mind doing small and infrequent fabrication jobs for friends. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/10 "2017-10-05T18:18:53Z")
Call a guy like me. **"Half-Fast Fabrication, Welding, Exotic Pets, Foreign Car Service and Microbrew"** ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/11 "2017-10-05T18:30:13Z")
Just a thought: is there a high school or vocational school or community college nearby with a metal shop? Might be able to get some work done there for cheap. Custom car shop is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/12 "2017-10-05T18:43:39Z")
The machine shop in a school probably has the necessary equipment to make what you want, but they probably don’t have a way of charging for it and it might be against the rules for them to do outside work. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/13 "2017-10-05T20:38:06Z")
Check welding shops and HVAC fabricators. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/14 "2017-10-05T20:44:58Z")
You say phone mount, I’ve bought mounts from ProClip for phones and GPS. I’ve also used them to mount mobile radio control heads. Might be worth checking out. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/15 "2017-10-05T22:36:43Z")
Another suggestion: a sign shop. Sheet metal fabricators have piles of scrap metal available and would likely not charge an arm and leg for something which sounds quite simple. And signmakers generally enjoy the odd job. ---
**Author:** ![Darvish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Darvish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darvish)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/16 "2017-10-05T23:07:35Z")
“I need …metal made. Who do I call?” “Whom??” do you call? (sorry, Mama was an Englich teshure) OK making metal is hard, and requires circulation of lighter elements thru the core of supernova stars. Which metal did you want?? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/17 "2017-10-06T01:07:59Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Do they have any useful design software available? > > I’ve thought up a couple of small items that would help out in my job if I could get them made, but haven’t been sure on how to go about that. A library near me has a 3-D printer and they recommend [Tinkercad](https://www.tinkercad.com/about/features). I’ve never used it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/18 "2017-10-06T01:25:02Z")
This sounds simple enough that you might consider creating it yourself. Why not give it a go? mmm ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/19 "2017-10-06T15:17:57Z")
Custom car stereo shops (independent shops, not BestBuy or other chains) have experience with fabricating automotive interior bits for custom stereo installs. It’s even possible there may be a pre-made panel from Scosche, Metra, et. al. to fill the space in question. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-custom-piece-of-metal-made-who-do-i-call/798022/20 "2017-10-06T15:44:49Z")
I’ve made quite a few filler plates using just a hacksaw and a cheap plastic miter box. I have no idea how complex your piece needs to be, but I can usually fabricate something that meets my needs. Sometimes I have to use a pair of metal-bending pliers, which are available for a very low cost at Harbor Freight.