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Metal fabrication refers to any process that forms a metal base material into its final product. This can be done through molding, cutting, or shaping, and the technique used depends on both the type of metal and the product you want to make. Alaska Tool Company in Fairbanks, AK, understands that not all methods of custom metal work are created equal, and they offer a deeper dive into the different types of metals used for custom fabrication, along with their benefits.

3 Types of Metal Fabrication 

1. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is typically used to make large tanks and bins for food processing. The receptacles are used to hold large amounts of dry goods such as grains or liquids like beer or syrup. It’s a non-corrosive material that will not rust or stain and is considered to be very easy to work with. However, it can be up to 60% more expensive than carbon steel.

2. Carbon Steel 

metal fabricationCarbon steel is used to make a variety of equipment such as tanks, structural steel for buildings, ladders, stairs, platforms, and more. It’s an extremely versatile material that can be easily bent or rolled, which is why it’s used to create so many different products. It’s also cost-effective for many machine shops to use, making it a good option for consumers. However, carbon steel is susceptible to rust. Therefore, most companies choose to perform an additional step to coat carbon steel products in a non-corrosive material before using it for metal fabrication.

3. Aluminum

Aluminum has similar properties to stainless steel in terms of its non-corrosive properties and resilience. However, it’s extremely lightweight, making it a better material to use for products like industrial access equipment such as caged ladders and platforms. It’s both easy to install and use, and it’s more cost-effective than stainless steel. It’s also widely used in the automotive industry, where maintaining a low weight is essential to increase speed.

It’s good to understand the benefits and drawbacks of different materials used in metal fabrication so that you can make the best decisions for your products. Alaska Tool Company has been making custom metal work products for over 40 years. They tailor their response to their clients’ needs by providing the knowledge, skills, and expertise in the field to get them the products and repairs they need through innovative and creative solutions. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call (907) 479-5354.

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