Steel Sheet
Competitive Metals offers a variety of thicknesses and sheet sizes in both hot rolled and cold rolled finishes. Hot rolled steel sheet is rolled at high temperatures and tends to have less accurate tolerances because when it cools it can cause the material to shrink and alter the shape slightly. Hot rolled sheet is a good general-purpose sheet metal but does have a mill scale finish. Cold rolled steel sheets are hard, durable sheet metal that have a clean, mill scale free finish. Cold rolled steel sheets go through the same beginning processing as hot rolled but are then cooled then annealed and/or temper rolled; the additional processing gives cold rolled steel tighter dimensional tolerances and better surface finishes. Typically, cold rolled products are harder to work with than hot rolled due to cold rolled having a higher carbon content. With sheet however, cold rolled steel sheets have a lower carbon content and are typically annealed making them softer than that of hot rolled steel sheet.
Steel Sheet Features:
- Hot rolled sheets are offered in 16 gauge up to 10 gauge (thicker sizes can be found under hot rolled plate or hot rolled pickled & oiled plate).
- Hot rolled sheet is typically used when size precision and tolerances aren’t necessary; these tend to have a lower cost than that of cold rolled.
- Cold rolled sheets are used when tolerances, surface finish, and precision are necessary for the project.
- Cold rolled sheets are offered in 22 gauge up to 11 gauge. If you’re looking for thicker plate without the mill scale finish, consider purchasing hot rolled pickled & oiled (offered in 10ga, 3/16”, and ¼”).
- Inventory includes sheet sizes 48"x96", 48"x120", or 60"x120" depending on material type and thickness.
Contact Competitive Metals for Steel Sheets in Southern California and Beyond
If you’re in need of a size you don’t see listed, reach out to Competitive Metals so we can track it down for you. Have questions regarding Steel Sheets? Contact Competitive Metals today
