Corrosion Source
Just what is it about corrosion you want to know? Odds are, this Texas-based site will have your answer. Heck, it might even ask some questions for you. From directories of suppliers to technical information, from online utilities and tools to more relevant links than you can shake your mouse at, this site is Corrosion Central.

e-STEEL
e-STEEL claims to be a true marketplace for the exchange of steel on the Internet, as well as the most advanced and efficient marketplace for steel professionals globally. According to their narrative, e-STEEL is neutral, does not own any of the products transacted on the system, and is not affiliated with any industry participant. This site offers e-mail notification and other communication features that support direct transactions. The site requires registration to begin trading, and it is as secure as technology allows. An excellent addition to the growing metals-trading field.

NewView greater whole. What's happened is that e-STEEL did so well with steel, that they've expanded into Automotive, Material, Appliance, Manufacturing and other markets. Another exchange, but grown from a successful model.

FlatGround.com
This may be the easiest site description we've ever written.

This site sells flat ground stock. Period. No bells. No whistles. You can order and purchase within a VeriSign environment (that means it's secure) and be on your way.

MachiningZone.com
The Machining Zone is sponsored, hosted, and maintained by CarpenterDirect. If you're expecting to see an overt, commercial site slanted only toward their product, think again. The Machining Zone offers up a cornucopia of metalworking and machining information and data useful beyond any specific product from any single supplier. Scrolling down the main page you'll find technical guides to, Turning, Drilling, Tapping, and Threading. There are also troves of info within their Technical Information Database. Rounding out this site are comprehensive links and calendar pages.

MatWeb
It's awfully refreshing when someone delivers on a promise, don't you think? MatWeb stands for Materials Web, and they bill themselves as "The Online Materials Resource." And guess what? They really, really deliver the goods.

MatWeb is, put simply, a materials information database with data on nearly 25 THOUSAND materials including metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites. Some areas and information access require registration. We could go on about their calculators or searches by multiple criteria, but it just wouldn't do this amazing resource justice. Go there, and give it a whirl to appreciate it.

Metal Suppliers Online
Do you buy metal? Then keep a bookmark on this site. "MSO" was one of the first online metals services. You just gotta love these guys. They give you the poop on over 2500 North American metals producers (hundreds have links to their Web sites). There's a nifty interface for viewing the properties of more than 5000 ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as the best crop of other online utilities we've seen in a while. MSO is free, and registration is required to receive quotes and other information from suppliers. They've undergone a radical facelift recently, and she'a beauty. MSO also offers free software downloads to assist in finding their users with surplus to match your needs. One of the Web's premier metals showcases. Period.

Metals USA
Metals USA is an existing, "bricks & mortar" metals processing and distribution concern out of Houston, Texas. They've launched an online component to their traditional business that looks to streamline the processes that support the procurement of metals and other supply chain management activities. Their site offers a simple layout and quick access to metals sources. Also of note, their i-Solutions Customer Care Center is an "extranet" utility that allows customers access to account info and other services.

OnlineMetals
From the great Northwest comes this (once) small but very effective, secure metals ordering service. Want the clutter of metals market news, stock updates and personalized online channels? Look elsewhere. Are you looking for a source for specific metals in various quantities, a place to buy it, and then get back to your business without a lot of bells and whistles? Then this is your type of place. OnlineMetals is one of the single most effective, service-oriented e-commerce resources we've seen online.

Principal Metals
Principal Metals, a new site on the Web for metal buyers, allows you to search and access the inventory and services of more than 5000 world wide metal suppliers. Besides the metals search offered here, there are mechanisms to view material properties, cross-reference specs, and perform multiple calculations. Principal Metals is free, and registration is required to receive quotes and other information from suppliers. Frames are used throughout the site, which is well organized and quite speedy.

Specialty Steel & Forge
SteelForge.com is another excellent example of a traditional metals company using the Web to expand their services. This site has it all: comprehensive menus of their products, an intuitive navigation scheme, an assortment of calculators and utilities, and various communications methods to contact and query. They even have an interactive log-in available to check order status real-time. This is one welcome addition to the online Metals Sales & Services community.

Steel Spider
It's a spider for folks buying steel, get it? They say they're a search engine for flat-rolled steel buyers. They claim to locate prime, excess prime, secondary, coated and uncoated carbon and specialty steel coils, sheets and plates for sale in the US and Canada. And, of course, they let you know about it once you've registered--via e-mail or a fax-back service they've named Boris (the Spider.... it's a Who reference... oh, never mind). This is a nice, very vertical site. Simply designed and effective.

SteelBoss.com
Meet the SteelBoss. Same as the old boss.

Not hardly (with apologies to the Who), as this subscription-based site (as much as $40 per month or $480 per year) "offers dozens of features designed to be a very economical solution for companies to access the worldwide supply chain in steel." A great deal of this service isn't just related to the introduction to suppliers; a subscription includes various documentation and account management options. This represents a formidable online play-yuh in the metals procurement field.

As of 02/03, "the Boss" has waived its subscription fees to allow for full access to the entire site without charge. Nice move.

The Aluminum Association
This association site is heavy on industry news, which likely doesn't trip your metalworking trigger. But planted around this site are nuggets of info that may help you directly, such as info about aluminum sources, prices, availability and process.