How to Spot Quality Issues in Your Metal Product

While many variables can cause issues in metal materials, it's important to recognize and identify any issues that could affect your project. Today, I'll cover a few common quality issues seen in metal products and explain the best time to spot them. 

When you have a metal supplier who you've worked with numerous times, they probably know your processes and preferences, and they're less likely to ship something that doesn't meet your standards.

But, when you order metal products from an unfamiliar source, you need to ensure those materials are up to standard. And by knowing what to look for, you'll minimize your chances of receiving low-quality material. Here are some surface and specification issues to watch out for in your metals.  

Metal Material Surface Issues

When metal product comes in, the first thing you want to do is a visual inspection. Issues like rust, staining, and dents are immediately visible before you open up a coil. And if you can see stains on the edges of a coil, you can usually tell how deep the rust goes from the edge of the material. 

Once you open up and begin processing your metal material, it's possible to run into more surface problems. Things like mill marks, scratches, and laminations are common surface conditions. You may also run into shape issues where you get into a coil and find your metal material is wavy, twisted, or burred. 

Metal Material Specification Issues

When a customer gives specifications on a metal order, those specifications need to be adhered to. And regarding width, thickness, and tolerance, it's crucial to stay within their parameters. Most of the time, tolerance specs are so tight that you won't immediately know if your material doesn't comply. 

At Mead Metals, we check the metal material several times before it ships. If it doesn't match client specifications, we'll make whatever changes are needed. Additionally, our slit coil shipments go out with a sample piece that reflects the quality, gauge, and other specifications of the coil material. Then, it's easy to see if the material meets specifications without having to open it up. 

Of course, every situation comes down to standards. For some applications, surface issues are irrelevant. For applications requiring the most pristine metal material, it only makes it out the door once it's within the tolerance of their split specs. Nothing else is acceptable.