Materials
The metals we source for parts and projects.
Aluminum, stainless steel, carbon and alloy steel, brass and copper, bought for each order from our network of Canadian metal suppliers, cut to size or in full lengths, with mill test reports. We keep no stock, so this is what we source, grade by grade.
What we source
Aluminum
Light, quick to machine and resistant to corrosion: the most common metal for CNC parts, and for plate, sheet, tube and shapes on a project.
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6061-T6
T6; T651 for plate, ASTM B209, ASTM B221
The general-purpose alloy, with magnesium and silicon, heat treated for strength. It machines cleanly, welds and anodizes well.
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7075-T651
T651, ASTM B209, ASTM B211
A high-strength alloy with zinc, stress relieved. Stronger than 6061 and harder to weld; it anodizes.
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2024-T351
T351; T3 for sheet, ASTM B209, ASTM B211
An alloy with copper, strong and resistant to fatigue. It needs a coating against corrosion.
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6063-T52
T52, T5, T6, ASTM B221
The architectural alloy: a fine finish, and less strength than 6061.
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5052-H32
H32, H34, O, ASTM B209
Bends well and resists salt water: the usual sheet for enclosures and marine work.
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3003-H14
H14, O, ASTM B209
Soft and easy to form, with good resistance to corrosion.
Where we buy: Cut-to-size suppliers for small orders, and national service centres, for example Russel Metals and Samuel, for plate and volume. Buy Canadian counts aluminum as Canadian only if it was smelted and cast here, so the record carries the country of melt.
Stainless steel
Resists corrosion and stands up to cleaning and heat.
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303
ASTM A582
A free-machining stainless steel with sulphur added, so it cuts fast on a lathe. Not for welding.
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304
ASTM A276, ASTM A240
The most common stainless steel, with chromium and nickel, usually dual-certified 304/304L. It resists corrosion indoors and around food, and it welds.
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316
ASTM A276, ASTM A240
Like 304, with molybdenum added for better resistance to chlorides and salt water; usually dual-certified 316/316L.
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17-4 PH
Condition A, H900, H1150, ASTM A564, ASTM A693
A precipitation-hardening stainless steel, much stronger than 304, heat treated to the condition the drawing names.
Where we buy: Service centres and cut-to-size suppliers in Canada, with the mill certificate for every heat.
Carbon steel
Strong, tough and economical, for machined parts and for structures; usually finished, painted or plated against rust.
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1018
Cold finished or hot rolled, ASTM A108
A low-carbon mild steel. It machines and welds easily, takes plating and can be case hardened.
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1045
Cold finished, hot rolled, or turned, ground and polished, ASTM A108
A medium-carbon steel, stronger than 1018, for parts that take wear.
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CSA G40.21 300W
CSA G40.21, often dual-certified to ASTM A36
Canada’s common structural grade for plate and shapes. 44W is its old name.
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CSA G40.21 350W
CSA G40.21; hollow sections as class C
A higher-strength structural grade for plate, beams and hollow sections. 50W is its old name.
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ASTM A36
ASTM A36
The common structural steel under the American standard, for plate and shapes.
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ASTM A500 grade C
ASTM A500
Hollow structural sections, cold formed and welded.
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ASTM A53 grade B
ASTM A53
Steel pipe, black or galvanized.
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Steel sheet
Hot rolled, hot rolled pickled and oiled, or cold rolled, ASTM A1011, ASTM A1008
Steel sheet for bending, welding and painting.
Where we buy: Service centres and cut-to-size suppliers in Canada. Steel counts as Canadian under Buy Canadian only if melted and poured here, so the record carries the country of melt.
Alloy steel
Chromium and molybdenum for strength and wear, bought pre-hardened or annealed as the drawing needs.
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4140
Pre-hardened to 28 to 32 HRC, or annealed, ASTM A434, ASTM A322
A chromium and molybdenum alloy steel. Bought pre-hardened, it’s machined as supplied: strong and resistant to wear.
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4340
Annealed or pre-hardened, ASTM A322, ASTM A434
Nickel, chromium and molybdenum: tougher than 4140 in thick sections.
Where we buy: Service centres and cut-to-size suppliers in Canada, with the mill certificate for every heat and the country of melt on the record.
Brass and copper
The benchmark for machinability, and copper for conductivity: both cut clean and resist corrosion.
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C360
ASTM B16
Free-machining brass, with a little lead so the chips break clean. The usual grade for turned parts.
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C260
ASTM B36
Cartridge brass, for forming, stamping and decorative work.
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C110
ASTM B187, ASTM B152
Electrolytic tough pitch copper, for conductivity.
Where we buy: Cut-to-size suppliers in Canada that stock copper alloys. Buy Canadian’s melt test covers steel and aluminum; brass and copper have none there.
How we buy
How we buy the metal for each order.
Every price comes from a dated price list per supplier, region and grade, and every piece arrives cut to the size the order needs.
Sourcing metal and the country of melt-
Cut-to-size suppliers
Small orders go to suppliers that cut bar, plate and sheet to the sizes you need.
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Service centres
Plate, shapes and volume go to service centres, for example Russel Metals and Samuel.
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The mill test report
Every heat comes with its report: the grade, the heat number and the country of melt.
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Checked on arrival
For a CNC job, the shop checks the metal against its report before the first cut.
The country of melt
The country of melt, on every CNC order’s record.
Buy Canadian counts steel only if it was melted and poured in Canada, and aluminum only if it was smelted and cast here. Cutting or machining it in Canada doesn’t change that.
- Every mill test report names the heat and the country of melt
- We ask suppliers for it with every price
- Your record shows it, even when the melt isn’t Canadian
Buyer early access is coming soon.
Your name, work email, company and province. We’ll write when ordering opens in 2027. There’s no drawing or file on the form.
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Machined parts
Custom CNC parts from your STEP files and drawings, with the metal, machining and freight on one quote.
Join buyer early access -
Metal for a project
Your list in your own words. We settle the exact request with you and send one offer with its delivery date.
Join buyer early access