Common Metal Shapes and Terminology
Authored by Tractor Supply Company
When working with metal, it is helpful to know what type of metal you are working with, such as steel, aluminum, or alloys so you can use the right type of metal and shape of metal for your particular metalworking project. Whether you are working with metals in a pure state, as alloys or as protective coverings for other metalworking jobs, knowing what type of metal is best for each type of job is important to getting your DIY project done correctly.
Metal stock, especially steel and aluminum, is available in many standard shapes, ready to be cut, threaded, bent, or joined. The following shows the most common stock shapes, and methods of measurement. Some dealers will also take orders for shapes custom-extruded to virtually any specification.
Channels, I-beams, and H-beams have two parallel arms, called flanges, connected by a perpendicular piece called the web. As a layman, you may find the conventions of metal measurement confusing in some instances. But the metal industry adheres to the following terminology: The length of a flange from end to end is called flange width, and the length of the web is called the depth of the shape.
Common metal shapes and measurement method
Angle
Leg length by leg length by leg thickness
Strip or band
Thickness by width (pieces 1/4" and thicker are flats, pieces wider than 12" are sheets)
Channel
Depth (web length) by web thickness by flange width
Flat
Thickness by width (pieces 3/16" thick and less are strips or bands, pieces wider than 8" are plates)
Hexagon, Octagon
Width (from side to side, not corner to corner)
Round tube or pipe
Outside diameter by wall thickness
Square tube, rectangular tube
Outside width (by outside height for rectangular tube) by wall thickness
I Beam, H Beam
Depth (web length) by web thickness by flange width
Plate
Thickness by width (pieces 3/16" thick and less are sheets, pieces 8" wide and less are flats)
Round or rod
Diameter
Sheet
Thickness by width (pieces 1/4" and thicker are plates, pieces 12" wide and less are strips or bands)
Square
Width
How to identify metals by appearance and use
Whether you are working with metals in a pure state, as alloys or as protective coverings for other metalworking jobs, knowing what type of metal is best for each type of job is important to getting your project done correctly.
The metals you are likely to encounter as a do-it-yourself (DIY) metalworker are listed below. You'll find surface, interior, properties and usage descriptions with each metal. These will help identify various metals.
Cast iron
Surface: Dull gray
Interior: Silvery white or gray
Properties: Hard, brittle, rusts slowly
Uses: Engine blocks, machine bases, fireplace equipment, bathtubs
Steel; low carbon (mild)
Surface: Dark gray or rusty; may have black scales
Interior: Bright silvery gray
Properties: Soft, bendable; easy to work; rusts quickly
Uses: Wrought-iron work; furniture, fencing, architectural trim
Steel; medium carbon
Surface: Dark gray or rusty; may have black scales
Interior: Bright silvery gray
Properties: Hard and strong; rusts quickly
Uses: Nuts, bolts, axles, pins
Steel; high carbon (tool-grade)
Surface: Dark gray or rusty; may have black scales
Interior: Bright silvery gray
Properties: Hard, brittle; rusts quickly
Uses: Cutting tools, hand tools
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Stainless steel
Surface: Clean silvery gray
Interior: Bright grayish silver
Properties: Tough; difficult to work; does not rust or corrode
Uses: Kitchenware, furniture, picture frames
Aluminum
Surface: Gray to white, dull
Interior: Silvery white
Properties: Light, soft, malleable; very easy to work or cast
Uses: Siding, roofing, gutters, flashing, auto and marine parts
Copper
Surface: Reddish brown to green
Interior: Bright copper
Properties: Soft; easy to work; good electricity conductor
Uses: Wiring and plumbing; major component of brass and bronze
Brass and bronze
(copper combined with zinc or tin, along with other metals)
Surface: Yellow, green or brown
Interior: Reddish yellow
Properties: Soft; can be worked hot or cold; casts and polishes well
Uses: Marine fittings, architectural trim, bearings
Nickel
Surface: Dark silvery gray, some green
Interior: Bright silvery white
Properties: Strong, hard; corrosion-resistant
Uses: Plating, alloys
Nickel-copper (Monel)
Surface: Dark gray
Interior: Light gray
Properties: Stronger and harder than nickel; corrosion-resistant
Uses: Corrosion-resistant construction
Lead
Surface: Bluish gray
Interior: White
Properties: Very heavy and soft; poisonous; corrosion-resistant
Uses: Protective linings, solder (with tin), alloys
Tin
Surface: Gray
Interior: Silvery white
Properties: Soft, malleable; corrosion-resistant
Uses: Galvanizing, alloys
Pewter (tin, antimony and copper)
Surface: Gray
Interior: White
Properties: Soft-casts well; modern pewter contains no lead, making it nonpoisonous
Uses: Eating utensils, decorative items
Zinc
Surface: Blueish gray
Interior: Blueish white
Properties: Soft but brittle; corrosion-resistant
Uses: Galvanizing, alloys
Silver
Surface: Dull gray
Interior: Bright silver
Properties: Soft; easy to work and cast
Uses: Eating utensils, decorative items, plating, solder
Gold
Surface: Yellow
Interior: Bright gold
Properties: Soft but tough; corrosion-resistant; easy to work and cast
Uses: Jewelry, electronics work, plating
