If you run a machine shop, chances are you’ve got extra metal sitting around. Maybe it’s leftover from a custom job. Maybe a client changed their specs. Whatever the reason, that material is just taking up space—and that space isn’t free.

That’s where Metal Shop Forum comes in.

We’re the online community and marketplace built specifically for machine shops and metalworkers who want to recoup their costs and make better use of excess inventory. Whether you’re dealing with aluminum sheets, steel bar stock, nickel alloys, or something more specialized, our platform connects you with folks who can use what you’ve got—and might have exactly what you need.

We’ve made it simple:

• Post what you have – Share details on your excess inventory: size, specs, condition, price, location.
• Search what you need – Looking for something specific? Use our listings to track down the materials you’re after—usually at a much lower price.
• Trade directly – Know another shop that might have what you’re looking for? Use our forum to arrange straight-up trades of aluminum plate for stainless tube, nickel alloy for titanium, whatever fits.
• Cut storage costs – Clean out that back corner of your shop and get real value back in return.
• Connect with real people – Our users include machine shop owners, project managers, supply chain specialists, and fabrication professionals. You’re dealing with people who get it.

Our members deal in all types of metals. Whether you’re sourcing or selling, here’s what you’ll find floating around the forum:

• Steel: Stainless, carbon, tool steel, and alloys
• Aluminum: 6061, 7075, plate, sheet, rod, bar
• Nickel Alloys: For high-performance and corrosion-resistant needs
• Titanium & Specialty Metals: Precision materials for demanding applications

Built for the Way Machine Shops Actually Operate

The idea is simple: turn extra material into something useful—cash, a trade, or just free space in the shop. We’re here to help you:

• Clear out inventory
• Recover costs from unused stock
• Source material without paying top dollar
• Keep things moving

The bonus? You’re also helping someone else do the same.

Common Use Cases from Our Members

A small job shop:

They finished a short-run aluminum project and now have a stack of 6061 sheet they don’t need. Rather than let it collect dust, they post it on Metal Shop Forum and connect with another shop doing bracket production that’s happy to pick it up.

A fabrication facility:

They overestimated demand and are sitting on bars of tool steel. A quick listing on the forum turns that material into money they can put toward a new tube laser purchase.

A supply chain manager:

She’s working for a mid-sized OEM and needs specific alloys but can’t justify buying mill-minimum quantities. She turns to the forum to find exactly what she needs—already cut, already in-stock, already ready.

Making a Good Listing (and Getting the Most Eyes On It)

Great listings move fast. Here are some tips that sellers in the community swear by:

• Be specific: Include exact alloy types, dimensions, and condition (new, partial, aged stock, etc.).
• Add photos: A quick phone snap goes a long way toward buyer confidence.
• Include quantity: Whether you’ve got one length or a whole pallet, say so.
• Location matters: Mention your city or region for easy local pickups or shipping estimates.
• Set a fair price: Think “recouping cost,” not turning a profit. Buyers know the going rate, and fair pricing builds trust.

Not sure what your material might be worth? Browse the listings—see what others are asking for comparable metals and start from there. The goal isn’t to haggle for weeks. It’s to clear space and recover value.

Not Just a Marketplace—It’s a Community

When you join Metal Shop Forum, you’re not signing up for some anonymous classifieds site. You’re stepping into a community of people who do what you do, face the same constraints, and value the same principles: no waste, fair dealing, and helping each other get the job done.

Got a weird one-off alloy you can’t identify? Ask around.

Need help packaging heavy stock for shipping? Someone’s done it and has a suggestion.

Looking for ideas on how to move 2,000 lbs. of bar ends? Post it—someone might be building a fixture and happy to take them.

Why This Works When Other Solutions Don’t

We hear it all the time: “Why not just list this stuff on a general marketplace?”

Well, you could. But you’ll be buried under listings for toaster ovens and gym equipment, or waste time messaging with people who have no idea what 4140 pre-hard is. That’s not just frustrating—it’s a waste of time.

Metal Shop Forum is different:

• It’s focused on materials and fabrication.
• It attracts people who work in the industry.
• Everyone’s speaking the same language.
• The people browsing your post want metal—not just to “see what’s out there.”

It’s Time to Do Something With That Metal

The truth is, that surplus inventory has already been paid for. It’s sitting on your books, sitting in your racks, and doing absolutely nothing for your bottom line.

You don’t have to be a salesperson to move it. You just need the right place to post it—and that’s what this is.

You can:

• Recoup some of that material cost
• Find the exact metal you need at a steep discount
• Swap with other shops instead of buying new
• Make room for the work that actually pays

It’s a smarter way to work. And it starts with a quick post.

Join Metal Shop Forum Today

No fluff, no gimmicks. Just a simple, practical platform that helps metalworking professionals take control of their inventory, cut waste, and keep production flowing.

So if you’ve got excess material—post it.

If you need something—search for it.

And if you’re just looking for other folks who understand how shops really operate, you’re in the right place.

Sign up today. The space you need (and the metal you want) might already be waiting here.

Ask yourself these questions to find out