Sheet metal is a versatile material used for various tasks, available in different gauges and grades. It can be treated with coatings and comes in flat sheets or rolls. It is sold at hardware stores or directly through fabricators, and high volume contracts result in lower costs.
Sheet metal is metal formed into flat sheets through a rolling, extrusion, or hammering process, depending on the type of metal and how it will be used. This material is available for a wide variety of tasks, from installing metal flashing on roofs to building space ships. Companies involved in sheet metal manufacturing generally produce a variety of gauges and grades to meet different needs, and it is also possible to manufacture particular types upon special request from customers.
The gauge of a sheet metal product refers to the thickness. The texture of metal products can vary and some can be very uniform, while others can be slightly coarser in thickness with bumps and lumps. Usually the lamination processes maintain a very regular state, with a uniform composition. Different nations have their own standardized measurement systems, depending on which measurement system they use.
Rating is a measure of quality. Each type of metal has its own grading scale, which relates to purity, corrosion resistance, and other traits that can be important for various metals. High quality sheet metal is more expensive, as it is higher quality and tends to be more versatile. Lower grades are less expensive and may be suitable for many applications, unless a project has very tight tolerances or specific requirements. When sheet metal is used as a conductive material, for example, it must be of good quality to avoid problems with the product.
Some types come with special treatments. Companies can electroplat it, stamp it or coat it for different needs. It can come in flat sheets or rolls for various applications and sometimes includes a thin film left in place on the metal until fully installed. This is common with products such as brushed or polished metals used as building cladding, where the company wants to prevent scuffs and scratches during transportation and construction. Workers can remove the drop cloth at the end of construction to expose the clean layer underneath.
Hardware and home improvement stores carry sheet metal for home improvement projects. It is also available directly through metal fabricators or dealers for larger scale projects. Companies with high sheet metal needs, such as automobile and airplane manufacturers, can fabricate their own or contract with a supplier to ensure they always have enough. Consumer prices tend to be high, while large volume wholesale contracts can result in a low cost per sheet due to the huge volume of plate sold.
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