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- RAW
METAL DEFINITIONS & TERMS
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- Unpacking
Craft Metal orders: We
handle craft metal with gloves so as to minimise finger prints
and wrap to protect in shippment. When opening a wrapped piece
be careful not to cut or scratch the craft metal. If it is a
coiled item it may spring open slightly when tape is cut.
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- Open packages
carefully over a counter top & soft surface as metal may
slip out and dent.
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- Craft metal
shipped in tubes usually slide out an open end very easily or
with with slight tapping- care should be taken not to dent the
metal in the process. If it is difficult to remove, unwinding
the cardboard tube will uncover the metal.
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- BULK METAL: Save with our cut to
length bulk metal prices for the crafts person. Our cuts are
generously long & approximately square. Metal by the running
foot or yard is shipped in one length whenever possible. We use this metal to craft our own creations.
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- Most metal is shipped
in a roll. If necessary ripples or curves can be flattened by
rolling it with a smooth rolling pin or plastic pipe section
on a completely smooth surface such as a countertop or glass
table. Our thinner gauges are shipped in a tube which works as
a roller for smoothing too.
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- GAUGE Is thickness. The higher the gauge number
the thinner the metal. For example 23 gauge sheet metal is more
than twice as thick as 30 gauge. See below for gauge charts.
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- HARDNESS: Basically how easy it
is to bend or work. Hardness has more to do with temper than
thickness. A very hard foil can be stiffer than a
very soft sheet metal twice the thickness.
- Medium
Soft is pliable yet holds up for folding and hammering.
- Medium
Hard is stiff, bends less easily and holds is shape better
in larger pieces
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- Grade &
Finish:
- Commercial
mill grade: Metal as it comes from mill with a rolled
satin finish. It has some very light manufacturing ripples, scratches
& color variations.
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Our new metals can be buffed up to shiny satin finish
with metal cleaners and a buffing pad. We recommend a powdered
cleaner called "Barkeepers Friend" available in most
grocery stores. A paste wax or clear varnish can be used to keep
metal bright.
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- We
also offer Reclaimed -Recycled metal: This
unused older metal often develops character from being in storage
for up to 75 years. It has color variations (patina) and may have
scratches, finger prints, ripples and/or dents, but no
holes. It is very usable at a good price. We find this metal
too useful in our own creations to scrap.
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- PATINA: The color that metal acquires with age
and oxidation. All the metals we offer are raw with no wax or
varnish and will gain patina over time.Patina solutions (available
at most hardware stores) can be used to speed the aging process.
More
about Patina
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- More
information on METAL CRAFT HOW-TO : Cleaning, cutting, forming,
soldering & finishing
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- CAUTION :HANDLE WITH CARE , Raw metals have sharp
edges. Rolls and coils are tightly wound and may spring open.
They are not intended for young children . Gauge thickness shown
is approximate.Our
metals are sold only for craft work; and they are not tested
nor certified safe for electrical nor electronic uses, nor home
construction nor internal consumption.
- PLEASE REFRESH
YOUR SCREEN
- TO SEE ALL
OUR NEWEST OFFERINGS & CURRENT PRICES
- Old prices from old
versions of our web site will not be honored.
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-
 GAUGE Charts for copper
sheet & wire:
- Gauge Is thickness.
The higher the gauge number the thinner the metal.
- The approximately
23 gauge copper sheet is heavy - traditionally used for roofs
and range hoods- where it will last hundreds of years. It weighs
one pound per square foot approximately.
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- Anything thicker
in sheet is in the area of metal plate. It is difficult to bend
and can not be cut with tin snips. A cutting torch or saw is
used for this.
- This chart shows
approximate gauge thickness for wire
- and may not
appear correctly on all screens.
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- GAUGE Charts
for copper sheet & wire:
- To see what we offer in these gauges
click to see our pages: SHEET METAL TOOLING
FOIL CRAFT WIRE RECYCLED METAL
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|
Gauge |
Dimension (inches) |
Pounds per Sq. Foot
in copper sheet approximately* |
|
8 |
.128 |
5.12 ( heavy copper plating over 1/4 inch thick) |
|
12 |
.080 |
3.20 |
|
14 |
.064 |
2.56 |
|
16 |
.051 |
2.04 |
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18 |
.040 |
1.60 ( thick copper sheet called "plate" as in
"plate steel") |
|
20 |
.032 |
1.28 |
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22 |
. 025 |
1.18 |
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23 |
.023 |
1.00 pound per square
foot approximately
(standard heavy weight
for larger craft work, roofing and range hoods etc.) |
|
24 |
.020 |
14.2 ounces per square foot .89
Pounds per square foot
medium-heavy weight |
|
26 |
.016 |
.64 |
|
30 |
.010 |
.40 medium weight sheet
twice as thick as 36 gauge |
|
36 |
.005 |
.234 (heavy foil/ tooling foil) |
|
38 |
.002 |
.09 |
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.0014
.0007 |
thin foil household foil-
called heavy household foil
very thin foil - standard
aluminum kitchen foil "tin foil" |
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