Click Metal guides

How to choose the right metal for your project

Published 14 July 2021

So, you’re starting a new metal project and you need help choosing the right metal for the job – and back pocket. Usually, choosing a readily available metal with a good range of properties is the best place to start.

Thankfully, Click Metal offers a cut-to-size service for a some of the most popular metal choices, including aluminium, stainless steel, galvanised steel, and mild steel. But which type of metal is right – and what shape should you choose? In this guide we explain the properties and shapes of common metals to help you decide.

How to choose the right metal shape for your project

Not sure which metal shape is right for your project? Here’s some information on the different shapes:

	Flat bars Flat bars are easy to bend into specific curves and they can also easily bend around other axis. With the right drilling equipment, it’s easy to bolt flat bars to each other and other objects.
	Angle Iron If you’re looking to create a rim or a collar off a flat metal plate – a wheel rim is a good example – angle iron is the best shaped metal for the job.
	C-channel Some c-channel bars can come with holes already installed making them super-convenient for bolting. They also help with the structural strength of the piece of metal you’re bolting it to.
	Metal tubes Thanks to their four sides, metal tubes are the strongest metal structures going, making them the best choice if your project requires rigid structural integrity.

Choosing the right metal shape for your project is integral to its success. At Click Metal, we stock specific angles, tubes, tee sections, and bars, so you can order the right metal shape for your project.

How to choose a metal with the right properties

There are four ways to define metal properties. These are:

Formability – how easy it is to form the metal into different shapes
Weldability – how easy the metal is to weld
Machinability – how easy it is to cut the metal with a blade
Tensile strength – how easy it is to snap the metal

At Click Metal, we stock aluminium, stainless steel, galvanised steel, and mild steel. But which one has the right properties for your project?

	Aluminium	Stainless steel	Galvanised steel	Mild steel
Formability	Low	High	High	High
Weldability	Hard	Medium	Low	High
Machinability	Easy	Hard	Low	Medium
Tensile strength	Low	High	High	Low

What are the pros and cons of aluminium, stainless steel, and galvanised steel, and mild steel?

Pros

Cons

Aluminium

Practical and lightweight

Rust resistant

Easy to machine

Ready available

Requires skill to weld

Not as cost effective as steel

Stainless steel

Won’t rust unless exposed to acid from chrome or nickel

Easy to recycle

Extremely durable

Aesthetically shiny and clean

Heavy

Not particularly easy to manipulate

Not easy to weld – warps if correct techniques aren’t used

Galvanised steel

Corrosion resistant

Durable

More affordable than stainless steel

Easy to maintain

Less visually appealing than stainless steel

Zinc can wear off

Can become brittle over time

Mild steel

Cost-effective

Malleable

Weldable

Vulnerable to rust and corrosion

Low tensile strength

Click Metal is the go-to for cut-to-size metal

Whether you choose aluminium or steel, you can rely on Click Metal for all of your metal needs. Browse our online catalogue to find the right metal for you!