Mild Steel

Mild steel offers benefits such as affordability, ease of fabrication, good strength, and ductility, making it ideal for a wide range of structural and manufacturing applications.

Some of the most common applications for mild steel include:

• Structural steelwork - Mild steel is used extensively in the construction industry for structural frameworks, bridges, and buildings due to its weldability and strength, ideal for fabrication.
• Automotive industry - Parts like chassis components, panels, wheels, and engine parts are commonly made from mild steel sheet metal. It provides the required durability at a low cost.
• Storage tanks and vessels - The low cost and formability of mild steel along with good welds make it suitable for large tanks and pressure vessels.
• Railways - Steel tracks, carriages and trains all rely on mild steel products for frames, bodies, wheels and axles. Furniture - Steel tubing, bars, and sheets are used to make desks, racks, panels and other furniture parts combining strength and style.
• General manufacturing - From brackets and base plates to gears, pulleys and machine components, mild steel is the most widely used metal due to availability, machinability and cost.
• Construction supplies - Steel rebar, tubes, sheets, angles and more provide low-cost structural materials for all types of building projects.

Yes, mild steel will rust through corrosion as it does not contain enough chromium to make it stainless. The iron in the steel reacts with moisture in the air to form iron oxide, or rust. Using galvanised or other coated mild steel helps provide corrosion resistance.

Mild steel offers benefits such as affordability, ease of fabrication, good strength, and ductility, making it ideal for a wide range of structural and manufacturing applications.

Mild steel contains a low percentage of carbon and is susceptible to rust, while stainless steel has added chromium, making it highly corrosion-resistant.

Due to its low carbon content, typically less than 0.3%, mild steel is less prone to cracking than higher carbon steel, which makes it an excellent material for welding. The most common welding processes used are manual metal arc (MMA) also known as stick welding, MIG (GMAW), and TIG (GTAW). Flux-cored arc welding can also be used.

The weight-bearing capacity of mild steel depends on factors like the type, thickness, and design of the steel, as well as the specific application. Engineering calculations are often needed for precise load-bearing specifications.

Mild steel can be cut using saws, shears, plasma or cutting torches, abrasive discs, and waterjets, although the method of cutting depends on the profile, size and finish of your mild steel product. For more help with cutting your steel, check out the following guides:

• How to Cut Metal With a Hacksaw
• How to Cut Metal With a Jigsaw
• How to Cut Metal With an Angle Grinder