I know that this does not seem to apply to your situation but please bare with me
My friend from Seattle got all of the steel he needed tomake bumper for his truck (a big lifted monstrosity) from "Seattle Tug" down at the pier. He went in and asked if they had scrap he could look at, and they sent him out back with an emplyee. He got two lengths of 10" C channel steel to make the bumper and it was free.
What I am sugegsting is that you should talk to some companies that are not steel companies but deal with steel in their day to day business. You might get lucky and find the right one! Good Luck.
Kyle
