What K&S Precision Metals does

K&S Precision Metals is a U.S.-based, family-owned manufacturer and supplier of small-diameter precision metals headquartered at 6911 W 59th St., Chicago, IL. Founded in 1946 by hobbyist Wally Simmers to source better materials for model airplanes, the company now stocks a catalog of 400-500+ SKUs spanning metal tubing (round, square, rectangular, hexagonal, streamline, oval, star, triangular), rod, sheet, strip, music wire to ASTM A228, crafting foils (including Cricut/Sizzix-compatible colored foils), brass angle, and brass channel — in brass, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, tin-coated steel, and music wire. Manufacturing emphasizes tight tolerances, specifically +/- .002" OD/ID on brass tubing and +/- .001" on music wire, and products are produced to ASTM B135/B134/B36 (brass), B251/B249/B152 (copper), A269 (stainless), B545 (tin coated), and A228 (music wire), with RoHS, REACH, and Proposition 65 compliance supporting regulated end-markets.

The core capability is precision forming of small-diameter stock (1/64" to 11/32" OD tubing), where K&S has accumulated 80+ years of process know-how across multi-generational operators (CEO Wally Findysz with 39 years of service; direct sales rep with 40+ years). The company complements standard catalog SKUs with a separate custom cut service (precisionmetalcuts.com) for non-standard dimensions, and a curated set of precision tools (tube benders, threading dies and taps, rotary tools) that lock in the proprietary workflow around K&S metals.

K&S operates three parallel go-to-market motions: (1) a Shopify-powered DTC storefront at ksmetals.com launched May 2021 with same-day shipping for orders before 10 AM CT and international checkout via Global-E; (2) third-party sales on Amazon Marketplace; and (3) a 70+ year B2B display rack program placing 'metal vending machine' fixtures (Metal Center, Hardware/Hobby Tube & Wire Centers, Combo, Jumbo, Metric, Meter) inside hobby and hardware stores. Customers are predominantly hobbyists, makers, and DIY enthusiasts (the primary segment), with secondary use-cases spanning aerospace/defense, medical device manufacturing, electronics/semiconductor, automotive, arts/entertainment (prop makers, Adam Savage's "Tested" community), and education. There is no external institutional capital, M&A, or IPO activity disclosed; ownership remains with the Findysz family and revenue is not publicly reported.

Name

K&S Precision Metals

Legal name

K&S Precision Metals

Website

https://ksmetals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

K&S Precision Metals is a family-owned Chicago manufacturer (founded 1946) of small-diameter precision metals — tubing, rod, sheet, music wire, and foils — selling to hobbyists, makers, DIY enthusiasts, and industrial/Aerospace & medical manufacturers via DTC e-commerce, Amazon, display rack retail, and custom cut services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Metal Product Sales: One-time sale of precision metal products including tubing, rod, sheet, strip, foil, angle, and channel in various metals. Products sold in individual units, multi-packs, and assortment kits at various price points from $2.99 to $135.99 for standard products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

K&S Precision Metals manufactures and supplies small-diameter precision metal products including tubing, rod, sheet, strip, music wire, foils, angle, and channel in brass, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and tin-coated steel. The company serves both hobbyists/makers through direct e-commerce and retail display racks, and industrial customers (aerospace, defense, medical, electronics) through OEM channels, with custom cut services for non-standard requirements.

Product overview

K&S Precision Metals is a manufacturer and supplier of small-diameter precision metal products founded in 1946, serving hobbyists, makers, and industrial customers. The core product portfolio includes metal tubing (round, square, rectangular, hexagonal, streamline, and decorative profiles in brass, aluminum, copper, and stainless steel), metal rod, metal sheet, metal strip, music wire, crafting foils, brass angle, and brass channel. These materials are sold through a catalog of over 500 stocked SKU products. The company also offers display rack solutions for retail and wholesale distribution (Metal Center, Hardware/Hobby Tube & Wire Centers, Combo Display Rack, Jumbo Display Rack, Metric Center, and Meter Display Rack) containing curated assortments of products in organized configurations. Complementary offerings include pre-packaged assortments and packs for convenient multi-size purchasing, precision crafting tools (tube benders, threading dies, taps), and custom cut services for non-standard dimensions. All products are U.S.A. manufactured with tight tolerances and comply with Proposition 65, REACH, and RoHS standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Metal Tubing Small-diameter precision metal tubing available in round, square, rectangular, hexagonal, streamline, oval, star, and triangular profiles. Offered in brass, aluminum, copper, and stainless steel with various wall thicknesses and lengths for hobby, industrial, and OEM applications.
• Precision Metal Rod Precision metal rods in brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper materials, available in various diameters and lengths for industrial and hobby applications.
• Precision Metal Sheet Precision metal sheets in brass, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and tin coated materials, available in various thicknesses and standard sizes for crafting, industrial, and architectural applications.
• Precision Metal Strip Metal strips in brass, copper, and stainless steel materials, available in various widths, thicknesses, and lengths for electronics, automotive, and decorative trim applications.
• Music Wire High-carbon spring-tempered piano wire per ASTM A228 specifications, phosphate-coated for durability and corrosion resistance. Used in musical instruments, springs, precision tools, and control cables.
• Crafting Foils

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day shipping for orders placed before 10AM CT on in-stock items
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Global-EcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal-E is a Shopify partner that acts as Merchant of Record for international purchases. They handle all tax and duty calculations and remittances, allowing K&S to serve global customers seamlessly without dealing with customs complexity.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify is the e-commerce platform powering ksmetals.com. Provides payment processing through Shop Pay and Shop Pay Installments (via Affirm), enabling seamless checkout and flexible payment options for customers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OnlineMetals: OnlineMetals sells small quantities of metals (tube, rod, sheet, bar) directly to makers, hobbyists, and small businesses via e-commerce. Direct overlap with K&S on product mix, customer base, and DTC fulfillment model, with broader material grade selection.
• Speedy Metals: Speedy Metals is an online small-quantity metals retailer offering cut-to-size steel, aluminum, stainless, and brass products. Competes with K&S on hobbyist and small-business orders with similar one-off metal stock fulfillment.
• Hudson Tool Steel: Hudson Tool Steel sells tool steel, stainless, and high-carbon steel products direct to small shops and individual makers. Comparable to K&S in precision small-diameter stock and ASTM-spec conformance for hobbyist and professional buyers.
• Wicks Aircraft Supply: Wicks Aircraft Supply sells aircraft-grade aluminum, steel, and specialty metals direct to homebuilders and restorers. Comparable to K&S on small-quantity, hobbyist-oriented metal sales with a focus on aviation and maker communities.
• Aircraft Spruce & Specialty: Aircraft Spruce sells metals, hardware, and materials primarily to the homebuilt/experimental aircraft and aviation hobbyist market. Shares K&S's hobbyist/maker positioning and similar precision small-diameter tubing and aluminum product overlap.

Broad incumbents

• McMaster-Carr: McMaster-Carr is the dominant broad-line industrial MRO supplier with extensive metal stock, tubing, sheet, and wire products. While serving a much larger industrial customer base, it overlaps with K&S on small-quantity metal purchases by hobbyists and small shops.
• Grainger: Grainger is a broad-line industrial MRO distributor offering metal stock, raw materials, and tools. Overlaps with K&S on small-quantity metal purchases by maintenance, repair, and small-business buyers across all industries.
• Metal Supermarkets: Metal Supermarkets operates a franchise network of walk-in retail metal stores supplying small-quantity steel, aluminum, brass, and copper. Competes with K&S on convenience and same-day pickup for hobbyists and small fabricators.

Regional players

• Midwest Steel & Aluminum: Midwest Steel & Aluminum is a regional service center in the Midwest offering steel, aluminum, and stainless products in standard shapes. Comparable to K&S in geographic focus and small-order fulfillment for fabricators and makers.
• Industrial Metal Supply (IMS): IMS is a West Coast-based metal service center supplying aluminum, steel, stainless, brass, and copper in various shapes. Overlaps with K&S on product format and small-business customer base but serves primarily Southern California.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KSprecisionmetalsusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/KSPrecisionMetals
• Instagraminstagram.com/ksprecisionmetals
• TikToktiktok.com/@ksprecisionmetals
• Xx.com/ksmetals

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about K&S Precision Metals