Iron Valley Metals at 1248 Reno Ave, Modesto, CA 95351

They’re not a bad company, but their prices are higher than I’d like, and sometimes the quality feels a little off. That said, if you’ve got an emergency and need something fast, they’ll get it to you quick and actually respond when you reach out. For urgent stuff, they’re reliable—but don’t expect the best deal.

Needed four more 1"×4" rectangular tubes after running out of the ones I got from SoCal. Back then, I paid $264 for all four. This time, Modesto Steel charged me $509 for the steel alone and another $640 just to cut the pieces—so over $1,100 total. When I brought it up to the manager, he didn’t even seem to care. Absolute rip-off. ---

The guy who helped me was super friendly and made the whole process easy. The prices were a little steep, but the material was top-notch. I picked up what I needed for catalytic converter covers for my two trucks, and everything turned out great. If you’re working on a project and need specific supplies, this is a solid place to go. ---

Does anyone actually answer the phones here? I’ve tried calling multiple times, and no one picks up. I even sent an email—checked the spam folder, nothing. Some of us can’t just drop by during business hours because we’ve got jobs. What’s the point of having a phone number if no one’s there to answer it? ---

Honestly, this place isn’t what I pictured when I first thought about a steel yard. I figured I’d just walk in, pick what I needed, and pay—simple as that. Turns out, you go into an office first, and they show you samples of what they’ve got. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the hands-on experience I was hoping for. That said, they do have a solid selection, with 5-foot, 10-foot, and 20-foot lengths available. I did run into one hiccup, and it was partly my own fault. I asked for a 1"x6"x5' steel flat bar, but when the employee went to cut it, I realized they’d given me a 1/2"x6"x5' instead. Luckily, it’ll still work for what I’m doing—just practicing welding—but it’s not what I ordered. Next time, I’ll double-check the measurements before they cut anything. If you know exactly what you need, this is a decent spot. But if you’re just browsing or unsure, you might want to look elsewhere first. ---