How to Order Metal Cut to Size Without Buying a Full Length

The short answer: To order metal cut to size, specify five things: the material, profile, cross-section size, cut length and quantity. Add any finish or tolerance requirements before the material is cut.

Buying a full length makes sense for some jobs. For a repair, prototype or small production batch, it can also leave you paying for material you don’t need and storing the remainder.

Here’s how to put together a clear cut-to-length order.

1. Choose your material

Start with what the finished part needs to do. Cut Length Metals supplies stainless steel, brass and aluminium.

Stainless steel is commonly chosen where durability and corrosion resistance matter. Brass is used for many machined and decorative parts. Aluminium is useful when low weight is a priority. Each category contains different grades, so include the grade if your drawing or job specification calls for one.

Browse our stainless steel, brass and aluminium ranges.

2. Choose the profile

The profile is the shape of the stock before you start working on it. Common options include round bar, flat bar, square bar, tube, angle and box section.

Think about how the piece will be used. A turned pin may start as round bar; a simple bracket may start as flat bar; a hollow fabricated part may call for tube. Choosing a profile close to the finished shape can reduce the work required later.

3. Specify the cross-section size

For round bar, give the diameter. For flat bar, give the width and thickness. For tube, give the outside diameter and wall thickness where applicable. For box section, specify the outside dimensions and wall thickness.

Always include units. “25 mm round bar” is much clearer than “25 round.”

4. Give the cut length and quantity

List the finished cut lengths in millimetres and the number of pieces at each length. For example:

304 stainless steel round bar, 12 mm diameter — 8 pieces at 450 mm long.

If you need several different lengths, list each one separately. If the piece will be machined after delivery, allow for the material your process needs to remove.

5. Mention special requirements before ordering

A cut length alone may not describe the whole job. Tell us if you require a particular cutting tolerance, end finish, polishing, deburring, material certificate or delivery deadline. We can then confirm what is available and quote the work appropriately.

Order the amount your job needs

Cut Length Metals is based in Caboolture, Queensland, and supplies cut-to-length metal across Australia with no minimum order quantity. You can select available sizes online or contact us for a custom requirement.

Ready to order? Send us your material, grade, profile, section size, cut lengths, quantities and any special requirements. We’ll help you get the order specified clearly before cutting begins.