Steel and metal hobby supplies for backyard hobbyists

The hobby machinist

Greg Rowell did some machining when he left school, but then ended up in an office job.

As he was approaching retirement, he decided to put his machining skills to good use.

Greg started making accessories for his lathe and milling machine… and then he found himself on a desperate search for a supplier that would provide small and varied materials for the hobby maker.

“I found that most suppliers want to sell you 6m of steel when you only need a small amount.”

“It makes it hard to find small pieces for the hobby guy. I’m located in Tasmania, so it makes it even harder to get what I need,” Greg says.

“And then I found Edcon. I can order the materials I need in the quantities I need them.

“Ordering online is very straightforward and I’m happy to pay the freight to get the products shipped to me.”

“Everyone I have dealt with at Edcon has been fantastic. For a little fellow, I’m over the moon.”

The projects Greg works on are diverse and interesting.

He has made parts for remotely operated vehicles, drones and motorcycles, an iPad mount for an adventure bike, and he has even dabbled in making rings and jewellery.

“At the end of the day, I love to get out in the shed and spend time machining.”

“Thanks to Edcon, I can easily order the hobby supplies I need to keep busy with my hobby.”

The furniture maker

Alex Richardson is an architect by day… and it was his architecture background that led to his interest in making furniture.

It’s something Alex does as a hobby, making tables, coffee tables and other furniture for family and friends.

Alex has been buying from Edcon for a number of years.

It’s the convenience of online shopping and the Edcon customer service that keep him coming back.

“Edcon really caters to people like me, who are looking to buy steel and metal for private or hobby use.”

”It’s so user friendly. I can see the prices on the website and can shop any time, day or night. And I can order as much or as little as I want.”

“For one of my orders I needed the delivery to arrive on a certain day and time. Edcon was so accommodating at organising the delivery around my schedule. Everyone is so helpful.  ”

“You don’t have to be a professional, with industrial knowledge or experience to order from them… they are always happy to help and are really accommodating.”

Alex also has an automotive background, so in addition to making furniture as a hobby, he makes exhaust systems and does fabrication for bikes and other equipment.

No matter what he is making, he always turns to Edcon for his hobby supplies.

The side hustler

James Finniss works full-time as an electronics engineer.

But he also has a side hustle making old school fountain pens.

“When I was younger, I worked in a tool shop,” explains James.

“I started making pens in the shop to demonstrate what the machines could do… and I’ve been making pens ever since.

“I also make parts for race cars and motorbikes.”

“I was looking for some cast iron round bar when I came across Edcon. ”

“I started buying bits and pieces of hobby supplies that I needed.”

“It’s great that with Edcon you can buy half a metre, if that’s all you need. ”

“If you had to buy a whole sheet or length it would cost thousands, so it’s good to be able to buy the lengths and sizes you need. ”

“Edcon also has a lot of specialty grades steel that you can’t find at many other places, so they are a one stop shop.”

James has had such a good experience with Edcon that he recommended them to his employer, who now source their supplies from Edcon.

“The website is great. You can always find what you are looking for and see the prices, which is helpful.”

“I’ve always had good experiences with Edcon.”

The BBQ man

What started as a tutorial browse on YouTube quickly turned into a passionate construction hobby.

For Mark Condi, it wasn’t enough to enjoy his briskets and slow-cooked meat.

He wanted to put his hands to work and create his very own smoker BBQ from scratch. Mark turned to Edcon to turn his dream into a reality.

“When you’re an amateur like me, you can be intimidated by going to a steel place like Edcon,” says Mark.

“It’s easy to think that Edcon’s showrooms are purely there for large construction projects. But as soon as I walked in, I felt comfortable. Everyone was very helpful and they took away any anxiety I felt.”

Edcon was able to support Mark and offered selected products, including perforated sheet, expanded metal, steel plates, tubes, pipes and steel bars.

Mark couldn’t be happier with the Edcon service.

“Everyone was really great to work with. They provided me with a lot of expert advice and support.”