Author Archives: Jon

  1. When To Choose Aluminum Over Stainless Steel

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    When To Choose Aluminum Over Stainless Steel

    Aluminum and stainless steel are the most widely utilized metals in manufacturing. The metals are workhorses thanks to their versatility and longevity. But there are specific situations where one of the metals is better. For this instance, let us explain when to choose aluminum over stainless steel.

    Lightweight & Strong

    Both stainless steel and aluminum are durable; however, steel is generally stronger than aluminum. Where aluminum gets the edge over steel is that it has a better strength-to-weight ratio, making it the ideal choice when you need something durable but lightweight.

    You’ll often see aluminum used for aircraft or high-rise buildings. Most city skylines have towering structures because of aluminum, while sports stadiums with retractable roofs have the precious metal to thank for making it a reality.

    Malleability

    Because of its adaptability and pliability, we can contour aluminum in various ways. It’s malleable to almost any form without compromising its hardness or rigidity. Yet, the process does not form a fracture or weakness plane.

    A loss of elasticity means it does not return to its original form after bending or stretching it. It’s important to note that aluminum maintains its malleability at room temperature. Only when it feels excess heat will it soften and become more flexible.

    Colder Temperatures

    In contrast to most types of steel, aluminum retains its malleability even when chilled. Yet aluminum improves in strength, ductility, and toughness as it ages. Consider this when making material choices for metal components with very low temperatures. Because of aluminum’s resiliency in frigid temperatures, it is abundant for those ships traveling through the Arctic.

    Rust-Free

    Aluminum’s best feature is that it is corrosion-resistant without any additional care. Simply put, aluminum doesn’t rust. You won’t have to worry about paint or coatings chipping or wearing off with metal. To prevent rust and corrosion, you must coat and treat steel, particularly if the steel item is in a wet or abrasive setting.

    Conductivity

    Aluminum has the reputation of being an excellent electrical conductor. Although aluminum has a lower conductivity than other metals, it is far more efficient at transmitting an electrical current. Long-distance power lines, high-voltage electricity transmission entry, and building wire feeders all employ aluminum. And without aluminum, many of us wouldn’t have 200+ channels to watch since it is prominent in satellite dishes.

    Learning when to choose aluminum over stainless steel can make a huge difference in the various fields we use the metals. Thin Metal Sales can be your dependable aluminum sheet metal supplier. For five decades, Thin Metal Sales has supplied the highest-quality cut-to-length sheet metals across the country, so let us be there for you and your sheet metal needs.

  2. The Differences Between Brass and Copper

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    The Differences Between Brass and Copper

    Two metals that often get confused with one another are brass and copper. The educated metal worker might be able to spot the differences within seconds, but the layperson might struggle to find the discrepancies. We’ll teach you the differences between brass and copper so that you’ll no longer use the terms interchangeably.

    Brass

    Brass is an alloy composed of two or more metals. It mostly consists of copper and zinc, with traces of tin often present. Brass may vary in color and quality depending on the relative amounts of copper and zinc present in it. It may look anything from pale yellow to a drab shade of gold. Due to its resilience and malleability, you can find brass often in plumbing, mechanical parts, and musical instruments. Since it looks like gold, you’ll see brass in décor pieces as well.

    Copper

    The element copper is a part of the metal group of the periodic table. People mine it from the ground and use it to make brass and bronze. Copper is prominent in electronics and computing devices due to its excellent conductivity and strong heat resistance. Additionally, copper pipes are common in plumbing systems. Scrap yards place a high value on copper because of its widespread use and sustainability.

    How Brass and Copper Are Different

    Since brass contains copper in its composition, distinguishing between them may be challenging. Yet they’re distinct from one another thanks to several qualities. Use these guidelines to distinguish between copper and brass.

    • Color: Brass generally has a bright yellow-golden hue, whereas copper is more reddish-brown.
    • Composition: Since copper is an element, pure copper is the only ingredient in copper, although traces of other metals affect its purity. Brass is an alloy. Thus, it has traces of copper, tin, and zinc.
    • Sound: It’s clear when you strike copper or brass metal. Copper is more of a baritone and low, while brass is a higher-pitched soprano.
    • Durability: Copper is the heavier material and corrodes at a slower rate. Copper’s strength is its malleability, but it isn’t as durable.
    • Magnetism: Theoretically, both materials shouldn’t have a magnetic reaction. Nevertheless, traces of iron in brass can elicit a response to magnetism. Copper, on the other hand, won’t react.

    Learning the differences between brass and copper helps you see how unique each material is and decide which to use for any project you have. Before starting your next job, consider Thin Metal Sales as your brass and copper sheet manufacturer. There isn’t a big or small job that we can’t help you with. Veteran-owned and operated since 1976, we provide the highest-quality custom slit-to-width sheets.

  3. Copper vs. Aluminum Wiring: Which Is Better?

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    Copper vs. Aluminum Wiring: Which Is Better?

    Copper and aluminum are the two most prevalent materials in wiring. Advantages and disadvantages exist for both, so let us present the unbiased case of which wiring is better between copper and aluminum, letting you make the best decision.

    The Case for Aluminum

    The opening argument aluminum would make to plead its case in an open court would be its affordability. Aluminum wiring for a home or commercial building can be kinder to your budget, considering it’s half the price of copper wiring. Aluminum is also much lighter than copper, making it easier to work with in certain situations and ideal for longer distances.

    You won’t find a more resistant material than aluminum, which is clear when working with power cables. Along with being half the price of copper, aluminum requires about half of the cross-sectional area of copper conductors to convey the same current.

    The Benefits of Copper

    While aluminum can tout itself as the cost-effective and lighter option, copper would plant its flag as the more durable and conductive material. Many builders prefer copper when the price isn’t a concern because of its long-lasting properties.

    The robustness of copper wires makes them less prone to break than their aluminum counterpart. When you are tugging on a wire to pull it through feeders and ports, it’s nice to have the assurance that it remains intact. Copper wire has less thermal expansion than other materials, so excess heat doesn’t cause it to expand.

    Aluminum’s Faults

    Although aluminum may be the less costly option between the two, there is a good reason for that. Aluminum is nowhere near as strong as copper. The difference in strength is why aluminum is so inexpensive in comparison. An additional downside of aluminum is its vulnerability to corrosion. You know copper is in it for the long haul, but you’ll always be concerned about aluminum wiring.

    Copper’s Flaws

    The primary negative of using copper boils down to its cost. Unfortunately, some folks don’t have an endless supply of money. They cannot write a blank check to a contractor and tell them to fill it out. Copper wiring is a hefty investment that isn’t in the cards for everyone. On the bright side, you get what you pay for: dependable wiring.

    The weight of copper wiring may throw a wrench into construction plans because the extra weight requires more structural support. This consideration will also put a dent in your budget.

    Deciding which is better between copper and aluminum isn’t always cut and dry. On the one hand, you save money when you use aluminum, but you’re using a weaker material. You could also use the best long-term solution and take the upfront financial hit.

    Regardless of your decision, no job is too big or too small for Thin Metal Sales. We can fulfill your copper sheet metal fabrication needs from one to one-thousand-pound orders.

  4. 304 vs. 316 Stainless Steel: Which Should You Choose?

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    304 vs. 316 Stainless Steel: Which Should You Choose?

    If your next project requires stainless steel, do you know which you should choose? It’s important to know the answer to this question for industrial applications. Even small differences in the same metal can substantially impact its performance. Take a closer look at those impacts by reading our comparison of 304 vs. 316 stainless steel metals below.

    Comparing Costs

    304 and 316 stainless steel metals differ in performance, but that’s not all. Gathering supplies for any project requires a budget limit. After all, supplies, including thin metal sheets and more, come in a variety of options.

    When it comes to 304 and 316 stainless steel grades, you must consider how much you want to spend. Simply put, 316 is typically more expensive than 304 stainless steel. That said, you should always consider the performance expectations when determining the value of stainless steel and compare the short-term and long-term side effects.

    Contrasting Characteristics

    Speaking of side effects, how exactly do 304-grade stainless steel and 316-grade differ in performance? When comparing 304 vs. 316 stainless steel, deciding which to choose depends on the defensive capabilities you need.

    Both types of stainless steel provide corrosion resistance, but 304s are more susceptible to corrosion over time. So, if you need the best corrosion and chemical resistance available, consider using 316 stainless steel for the project ahead.

    Considering Applications

    Thinking about the project ahead is critical because not every jobsite is the same. Thus, choosing the best stainless steel for any given project requires considering the importance of better corrosion resistance.

    The presence of more nickel and molybdenum in 316 than in 304 stainless steel provides metal with even better protection for certain applications. These common applications of 316 stainless steel include marine environments, medical environments, and other areas where maximum protection is a must. On the other hand, 304 stainless steel is more common in kitchen equipment. Contact the team at Thin Metal Sales today if you’re ready to find the right thin sheet stainless steel for your next jobsite.

  5. Why Water Pipes Are Commonly Made From Copper

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    Why Water Pipes Are Commonly Made From Copper

    When you understand which materials to choose over others, you can easily build safe, secure water pipes. For instance, you may know that copper is common in water pipes, but do you know why? Check out the explanation below to see why water pipes are commonly made from copper. That way, you can start carefully designing pipe systems instead of doing any guesswork during the planning phase.

    Corrosion Resistance

    Moisture can promote the corrosion of certain metals, which can cause problems in various industries. It should go without saying that a corroded pipe isn’t exactly something you want in your water supply. Luckily, copper is naturally corrosion-resistant. The presence of iron in metals will trigger corrosion, but copper does not contain iron. Instead of corroding, copper forms a patina on the surface that helps it combat corrosion and remain intact.

    Lead-Free Construction

    When installing water pipes, think about the potentially toxic materials leaching into the water. For example, preventing lead from entering the water supply is critical to a safe drinking water system. One of the primary reasons why water pipes are commonly made from copper is that they contain no lead. Thanks to a lack of corrosion and lead, copper pipes are an ideal solution for carrying water, but these aren’t the only benefits.

    Ductile Design

    As a copper sheet supplier, Thin Metal Sales provides manufacturers with copper for many reasons, one of which is ductility. Thanks to them being so ductile, you have more flexibility when working with copper. You can easily build copper pipes into a system that efficiently carries water to its destination by having them undergo extreme deformation.

    As you can see, copper is a versatile material that can make your project easier and safer than other materials available. The more you know about copper, the better you can use it to your advantage when the opportunity to manufacture metal piping arises.

  6. A Quick Guide to Understanding Aluminum Temper Designations

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    A Quick Guide to Understanding Aluminum Temper Designations

    Aluminum comes in more than one form thanks to various treatment processes. For instance, temper designations help manufacturers know more about each metal just by looking at a single letter. If you’re unaware of all the designations, then it can be a bit confusing to decipher. We’ve put together a quick guide to understanding aluminum temper designations so you can catch up right now.

    F

    The first temper designation is F, which stands for “fabricated.” However, this designation does not simply mean that the aluminum has undergone fabrication. Instead, this means the material is successfully tempered without special control implemented in the strain hardening or thermal treatment.

    W

    Unfortunately, the letters don’t always correspond to words the way “F” does to “fabricated.” For example, the W temper designation for aluminum stands for “solution heat treated.” This designation represents materials that spontaneously age after the heat treatment process.

    T

    T is a temper designation that signifies thermally treated aluminum. However, there are various treatments that can full under the T designation. For example, T1 signifies aluminum that is properly cooled down from an elevated temperature shaping process, then naturally aged to a substantially stable condition. On the other hand, T5 represents aluminum that is cooled from elevated temperature shaping processes and artificially aged.

    H

    H is a designation used to symbolize strain-hardened products. In some cases, H-temper-designated aluminum materials have not undergone heat treatment. The primary method used to strengthen aluminum in this process is strain hardening, but it will earn an H temper designation with or without thermal treatment afterward.

    O

    The final stop on our guide to understanding aluminum temper designation is O, which stands for “annealed.” This means that the aluminum has been annealed, or recrystallized, to achieve a low strength but high ductility design. As you can see, learning the aluminum temper designations is fairly straightforward if you look closely at the meanings.

    At Thin Metal Sales, we provide thin aluminum sheets for aerospace, medical, and other industries. Always ask your aluminum provider about the temper designations if you want to ensure the metal will react precisely how you need it to. As you can see from the list above, seemingly small changes in the tempering process can have substantial effects on the metal.

  7. Why Stainless Steel Is Corrosion Resistant

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    Why Stainless Steel Is Corrosion Resistant

    Manufacturing any machine or structure requires a careful selection of work materials. Whether you’re working with aluminum, steel, or beyond, you need to know how the metal will react in your application. For instance, stainless steel has a reputation for corrosion resistance, making it a helpful material in various projects.

    Making the most out of stainless steel’s corrosion defenses requires an understanding of how it achieves those defenses. Discover why stainless steel is corrosion-resistant today so you can learn how to utilize it at work.

    What Is Stainless Steel?

    Explaining corrosion resistance requires looking at what stainless steel even is. Steel already has its useful applications, so why rely on stainless steel in some situations? One additional component to the design opens many doors for manufacturers. It all comes down to the alloys, primarily Chromium content. Stainless steel is a steel alloy that contains at least ten percent Chromium.

    Corrosion Resistance

    Thin Metal Sales is a stainless steel sheet supplier, so it’s important for us to understand what makes this material so adept at combating corrosion. Chromium is a special ingredient in stainless steel that improves corrosion resistance. As useful as it may be, steel on its own can rust quite easily.

    Chromium reacts with the air around the stainless steel to create a thin protective layer on the surface. Thanks to that protective layer, stainless steel can combat corrosion. Now, it’s time to take a closer look at the importance of the reactive surface.

    Useful Applications

    Understanding why stainless steel is corrosion-resistant also requires looking at the common applications. For instance, the aerospace industry continues to use stainless steel for its applications. Vehicles, such as aircrafts, must have ample protection from the elements in flight, and stainless steel assists with that superbly.

    Structures in marine applications also utilize stainless steel to prevent the saltwater from corroding it quickly. If you need ample corrosion resistance in your structure, consider using stainless steel to bring the project together.

  8. 3 Uses of Custom Sheet Metal in the Aerospace Industry

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    3 Uses of Custom Sheet Metal in the Aerospace Industry

    Aerospace is an industry that involves many big machines, such as aircraft and spacecraft. However, one of the most important design elements used in the industry appears quite small when you see it—sheet metal. So how does this material fit into such massive designs? Read these common uses of custom sheet metal in the aerospace industry to see how it can help your business today.

    Versatile Material Options

    One use for sheet metal in the titular industry is to weave high-quality materials into the vehicle design. Common fabrication materials include aluminum, brass, and stainless steel, thanks to their quality performance in various fields. Sheet metal is the perfect way to introduce these materials into your vehicle because it’s an easy and effective fabrication material. Now, let’s assess the more specific reasons you would want to use such materials for professional aerospace work.

    Durability for the Elements

    From plates to frames, sheet metal is utilized in various aspects of flying vehicles, inside and out. As a sheet metal supplier, we can provide aerospace components such as shims, springs, washers, gaskets, and more. These parts may not seem so important when you consider the size of aircraft and spacecraft, but they are.

    Sheet metal’s presence on the exterior of the vehicle is helpful for fighting the elements. For example, brass is corrosion resistant, ensuring corrosive elements won’t wear away the vehicle parts too quickly.

    Lightweight Protection

    Another common use of custom sheet metal in the aerospace industry is building parts with an ideal strength-to-weight ratio. As mentioned above, aluminum is a common material used to create parts for the aerospace industry. One of the key benefits of using aluminum for building machines is that it is a lightweight material.

    However, despite its minimal weight, aluminum remains very durable. Thus, you can easily build parts with minimal weight but optimal protection using aluminum. Thanks to the applications above, sheet metal remains a beneficial part of the aerospace industry and other industries.

  9. What Metals Are Recyclable?

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    Recycling is becoming more and more popular for its many benefits. When it comes to metal, many people might not know which metals can be recycled and which can’t. According to Blackstone, less than half, or about 40%, of new steel products worldwide are made with recycled metal. This number is expected to increase as people and businesses become more aware of the benefits of recycling. If you’re wondering what metals are recyclable, then read on to get a good understanding.

    Brass and Copper

    Brass and copper can be recycled over and over again into new products, such as brass pots and pans, copper pipes, and brass doorknobs. They can become new products without losing their quality. When brass and copper are recycled, they are first melted down and then formed into new products. This process uses less energy than if the brass and copper were mined from the ground.

    Recycled brass and copper can be used in a wide variety of industries across the United States. Brass can be used by aerospace parts manufacturers to make products such as fuselages, engine nacelles, and aircraft skins. Chemical etching companies can use copper to make products such as etched plates, nameplates, and signs.

    Aluminum, Steel, and Lead

    Aluminum, steel, and lead are some other metals that can be recycled into new products without losing their quality. Recycling these metals conserves natural resources and energy, and it reduces pollution. Just like recycled brass and copper, recycled aluminum, steel, and lead are also used in a variety of industries. Stamping parts manufacturers use recycled steel to make products such as automotive parts, appliances, and furniture. Medical device companies use recycled lead to make products such as X-ray shielding, medical tubing, and radiation shielding.

    Now that you know which metals are recyclable, order them in bulk for your customers to use and to recycle overtime. If you need any kind of metal to keep your company’s production going, then take a look at our selections of brass, copper, and other metals. Call us at Thin Metal Sales today to get started with your order.

  10. Finding the Best Sheet Metal Workers for Your Business

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    Even though the United States had 138,900 sheet metal workers in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it can still be difficult to find the best sheet metal workers for your business. If your fabrication or manufacturing business requires workers who are experts when it comes to working with SAE 304 stainless steel, it makes sense to take your time and find the best people available.

    If your end product, such as a medical device or equipment, requires the use of SAE 304 stainless, it’s important to hire the right sheet metal workers for your business. This is especially true for companies that manufacture aerospace parts, chemical etching companies, stamping parts, and medical devices. Let’s explore some tips for finding the best workers for your business.

    Partnerships

    To find the best sheet metal workers, it’s important to set out clear and concise job requirements. If your manufacturing includes the use of components like SAE 304 stainless steel, be sure to include that in the job description. Approaching a technical school that provides such training is often a good way to start. Forming this type of partnership can go a long way in helping hiring companies reach the candidates who are best suited for the position. Another one of the most effective ways to only consider qualified candidates is to work with a school or training program to find new workers.

    Testing Modules

    Another way to narrow down the pool of candidates to only those best suited for the role is to set up a testing module. This module can be required to be completed during the first stages of the search and thereby eliminate unqualified applicants from the hiring pool. Without clearly identifying those skills that are an absolute minimum for the sheet metal workers best for your business, it is likely that many unqualified candidates will apply.

    Steps should be taken at the beginning of the process to ensure that by the time the interview process begins, only fully qualified candidates will be considered. No one, neither your company nor job seekers, wants to waste their time pursuing a position for which they aren’t qualified.

    Now is an ideal time to establish a hiring process that is set up to help your company find the right workers for your manufacturing business. Finding the best sheet metal workers does not have to be an impossible task. For metal sales your business can trust, contact our team today!