When it comes to deciding where to buy aluminum blocks, there are a few questions you should answer before you even start looking. The most important question of all is the importance of the quality of the aluminum and how this can impact the outcome of your project, prototype or application.
Other questions to consider include the size of the block you require, the specific alloy and the properties of the aluminum and, of course, the cost. Each of these considerations will have an impact on where you decide to make your purchase.
There are both good options in choosing where to buy aluminum blocks and those that are riskier or more likely to result in an inferior product. Making the choice based on the listed price alone is often misleading, so taking the time to consider the pros and cons of each option can be very helpful.
The first thing you will find if you simply do a search for aluminum blocks is that there are several different types of purchasing options. To go over the potential issues with any type of purchase option, a closer look at what you can expect will be helpful.
Online Auctions
You will find that there are several different websites that offer aluminum blocks in a variety of sizes, alloys and options through different online auction sites. This is perhaps the least ideal option when considering where to buy aluminum blocks since you have limited ability to check the reputation of the seller.
Aluminum quality can vary greatly with these online purchases. Additionally, you may find that the final selling price combined with shipping may be higher than what you would pay from a reputable aluminum supplier.
Metal Suppliers
Metal suppliers often have aluminum blocks in their inventory. They tend to carry the standard alloys and special orders for specific alloys can be costly and have long wait times for order fulfillment.
Since these metal companies don’t always buy from the same aluminum suppliers, the quality of the blocks can vary considerably. Also, they are more likely to purchase the cheaper priced aluminum, which may come from outside of the country and from an area where there are fewer quality control processes in place for manufacturing.
Buying from a specialized aluminum manufacturer and supplier is always the best option. This ensures top quality, consistency and adherence to industry standards and tolerances for the production from raw material to the aluminum block.
