Utilizing steel in your home is a great way to add versatility to the aesthetic, save money on materials and develop new skills – all at the same time.
Whether you’re looking to create a decorative frame, a chair, or a functional piece of organizational storage, why not experiment with using steel?
Steel is an extremely versatile material that is often overlooked during DIY projects. Next time you want to build some shelves for your home, don’t go straight for wood. Instead, pick up some steel bars or sheets and get creative.
Benefits of Using Steel
One of the best things about incorporating steel into your designs is that it’s much more eco-friendly than using natural materials like wood. Unlike wood, steel can be recycled and reused over and over again.
As well as this, steel is an incredibly durable material. If you’re looking to build a bespoke creation that will last for years to come, then steel is the best choice for you. While wooden furniture may suffer from rotting, warping, even woodworm, you can take comfort in the fact that these problems don’t apply to steel.
Another huge benefit of choosing steel is that it’s a cost-effective material. It is often more affordable to purchase steel than other common materials, and it lasts longer, meaning you save money over time.
Plus, one of the best things about using steel in a DIY project for the home is that you end up with a completely bespoke piece that you will treasure for years to come.
Choosing a Supplier
Once you’ve decided to incorporate steel into your home, the first place to start is to find a trustworthy steel supplier. We recommend Sheffield Gauge Plate for all your steel needs.
Finding a supplier who stocks a wide range of steel grades and sizes means that whatever project you’ve got up your sleeve, they’ve got you covered. As well as this, getting all your supplies in one place is a great way to keep DIY projects affordable.
Which Type of Steel Should I Use?
Once you’ve found the perfect supplier, your next task is to determine which type of steel to use. If you weren’t aware, there are roughly 3,500 different steel grades available today. This means that finding the right type for you can be a challenge.
These steel grades have unique qualities that will affect their behaviour and, therefore, their most practical purpose. Therefore, in order to decide which steel type to use, you must first look at what you want the steel to do.
If you intend to create utensils or items that may be washed, you should opt for a steel grade with higher than average chromium in its chemical composition. Having a high chromium content means that the resulting steel will have strong resistance to corrosion. Think of what we’d commonly refer to as ‘stainless steel’.
The best way to do this is to look more closely at the qualities you require from your material; will the steel get hot? Does it need to be tough? How easy is it to work with?
Once you have your list of necessities, you can find the most suitable steel type for your project by essentially weighing up the qualities you require and finding a steel grade that most evenly balances them all.
What Tools Do I Need?
While it may be tempting to go out and purchase a brand new toolkit when you first get excited about your new hobby, you might want to pause as it’s not completely necessary!
Every project is different, and different steel grades may require specialist tools.
With that being said, you can complete an enormous number of projects with steel using only the following tools:
- Hammer
- Anvil
- Bandsaw
- Hacksaw
- Welder
- Drill Press
- Grinder
Start out with these basic tools first, and if you find you can’t quite get the job done, you could benefit from splashing out on some more suitable ones. For example, some tougher steel grades may require a heavier, sledge-type hammer, whereas more refined, delicate projects might need a finishing hammer.
When working with steel, the best thing to do is just get started! Practice makes perfect, and you will build your knowledge and skills as you go.