Here at Customised Sheet Metal, we’re experts in transforming sheet metal into a wide variety of products. We use a variety of sheet metal to do this, but what types of sheet metal are there?
In this article, we’re going to answer the question ‘what types of sheet metal are there’ by listing the most popular metals used for sheet metal fabrication, and demonstrating a few products that will typically be made using these materials.
Let’s get right into it!
There are many different metals that can be used in the sheet metal fabrication process. Plus, some metals, such as stainless steel have multiple grades, meaning that the types of sheet metal available are almost countless! The choice of metal will depend on the type of product you’re making, and therefore the properties that you require the particular metal to have. For example, if you need a product to have high electrical conductivity, you’d opt for copper sheet metal over something such as stainless steel. A piece of sheet metal can be formed into a wide variety of shapes and sizes to create custom products. These range from; automobile parts, warehouse and logistics solutions, small decorative aesthetic pieces, and gorgeous bar tops. The uses of sheet metal are endless, and at Customised Sheet Metal, we work with a wide range of sheet metals. Take a look at the materials we work with here.
Without going into the detail of the different grades available for each metal and just looking at the most commonly used sheet metals used within the sheet metal industry, these would be:
Stainless steel is possibly one of the most well-known and commonly used types of sheet metal. When asking “what types of sheet metal are there?”, stainless steel will usually come up as the first answer. As a sheet metal, stainless steel is commonly used for the food service industry and household appliances. Professional kitchen countertops, for example, are often manufactured using stainless steel. This is because stainless steel has high corrosion and heat resistance, making it ideal for kitchens and other food industries. It also gives off a lovely shiny aesthetic, giving a real professional look and feel where it’s used. As well as this, stainless steel can also be used in the construction, transportation, chemical, marine, and textile industries. Further properties of stainless steel that make it a great piece of sheet metal to use are:
Copper, much like stainless steel, has corrosion and heat resistance. One of the major properties of copper that makes it stand out from other sheet metals, is its electrical conductivity. Due to its conductivity, it’s typically used to create products such as electrical wire. Due to its ability to conduct heat, you’ll also find that copper is used to manufacture cooking pots and pans, pipes and tubes, as well as automobile radiators. Copper is a red/orange colour naturally, making it an aesthetically pleasing metal. Here at CSM, we often use copper for countertops and bartops, as pictured below: 
A final key aspect to note about copper is its antimicrobial properties. Copper contains biostatic properties which help prevent the transfer of disease and microbes. This makes it an excellent metal to use where safety is crucial, such as kitchens. Other common places where you might find copper include:
Aluminium is a fantastic metal for sheet metal fabrication because it’s so malleable, and in some ways, more “elastic” than metals such as stainless steel. This means it can more easily be molded into various shapes and sizes, making it an ideal choice for lightweight construction purposes. Other properties of aluminum include its huge corrosion resistance and its ability to conduct heat and electricity. You may have seen aluminium in use for bodies of aeroplanes as one of its key everyday uses, particularly because aluminium is so light and you definitely wouldn’t want to use a heavy metal for an aeroplane!
One of the most well-known uses of brass is in musical instruments because of its acoustic properties. The brass family in an orchestra includes trumpets, french horns, trombones, to name a few. Due to its bright gold appearance, brass can be used to manufacture aesthetically pleasing products. Our social media post highlights some of the incredible creations that we’ve made using brass: 
Further properties of brass include:
Everyday products made from brass metal fabrication include handles and railings, marine hardware, plumbing fixtures, and more. 
In answering the question ‘what types of sheet metal are there’, we haven’t listed all the numerous types of sheet metal, but we have explained the key properties and uses of four of the most common. When it comes to creating a product out of metal, it’s likely that the sheet metal fabrication process can be used to shape the sheet metal into the desired shape and size. Read more about the sheet metal fabrication process in our ultimate guide to sheet metal fabrication here.
Are you looking for an expertly created metal product? We can use numerous types of sheet metal to create the custom piece that you need. Contact us to get started.