Gauge/thickness selection

[Johndeere87]

I'm sure this has been coverd before but I can seem to find it.
I'm new to this whole thing and trying to get started. So here's the question. How thick of gauge are you guys making most of this wall art out of. I tryed some 20 gauge because I was worried about it being to heavy to hang on the wall especially doing stuff with 2 layers. But all it wanted to do was bend up due to heat.

So this is what I have came up with

16 gauge for wall art
1/8 for outdoor sings something you would weld a steak to. Like garden sings and such
And 3/16 or 1/4 for fire pits.
Am I close? Any and all help will be appreciated.
Thanks

[gs123]

i use 16ga on my signs

[Old Iron]

16ga is my choice unless the customer is asking for heavier.

[tnbndr]

Close, except I use 14 gauge or 12 gauge for interior signs and wall art. I don't like flex or bend and for whatever reason customers equate weight with quality and value.
The heavier steel is not that much more money per sheet.

[Capstone]

I use primarily 16ga, but 14ga does work better on larger pieces that have a lot of cutouts. It's really piece dependent and this is of course on Art Wall hanging pieces, not sculptures.

[Shane Warnick]

I use 14g on most signs / art stuff for indoors, then 10g or 3/16 for larger outdoor signs, and 1/4 for firepits etc. I don't keep anything thinner than 14g in steel, funny thing is, the 16g and 18g are actually the same price per sheet, just more per pound, as the 14g is. I inquired about this at the steel supplier, seems they have so much more loss on the thinner stuff that it eats the profit margin up, so they just charge the same as 14g to cover the loss. Basically, I was told, you bump a stack of 14g sheets with a forklift, not really a big deal. You tag a stack of 18g sheets, and you will mess up the edge on 20 of them. Then the customers don't want them, or want a discount, hence the PITA factor.

Shane

[mdwalker]

I think you are pretty close on sizes. I typically use 16ga for wall art and have used up to 1/4 inch for some signs/gates ect. With experience you will get a feel for what to use in different situations. For instance, 16ga or 14ga may work perfectly fine for a certain size sign that has a solid backing behind it such as a wall but may not work so well for a free standing sign.

Danny

[motoguy]

Close, except I use 14 gauge or 12 gauge for interior signs and wall art. I don't like flex or bend and for whatever reason customers equate weight with quality and value.
The heavier steel is not that much more money per sheet.

This post really stuck with me. I use 14ga for my wall art. Customers seem impressed by the rigidity, and "heft". More than once a comment has been made about how "high quality" the piece is.

Plus, my supplier charges the same for 16g as for 14g. The tightwad part of me can't get around paying the same for less material...so, unless I NEED 16g for something, it'll be 14.

[HaasMetalDesigns]

All signs 11g big outdoor signs or Company signs 3/16-1/4
All backgrounds I use 22g to get different colors
All signs get powder coat front and back

[chevybythesea]

I use 11g for all my art, and sometimes even 3/16". Nothing lighter, as most folks here are putting this outside, and need the durability.

[KIDTech]

.25 aluminum makes for awesome signs.