When you're looking for the right steel fabricator, it's important to know the main factors that affect the quality of manufactured steel. Here are some things you should always look at when choosing high quality steel. 

Type of Steel and its Intended Uses. 

One thing that can affect steel's properties greatly is the manufacturing process and its intended uses. Different types of steel fabrication process are geared towards industrial, aesthetic, and medical uses for example, and their properties can be quite different.

As one example, stainless steel is a type of steel fabrication that can be used for many industries. This steel is designed to be durable, attractive and resistant to the elements— its properties are very balanced. 

On the other hand, weathering steel may be a better option if your sole focus is on steel that's strong enough to withstand the elements. This steel may have a jagged and unfinished appearance, but it is designed to be very water resistant. 

Depending on your intended use, ask your steel fabricator on the types of steel to consider. Carbon steel is another option for many industries; its high carbon content makes it a very strong variation of steel sheets. Spring steel can be used in manufacturing processes and other areas where it's important for steel to stay in shape under stress. Some companies will use a combination of steel types to meet their needs most effectively. 

Heating Process

Another thing to consider is the heating process of your steel fabricator. Do they use a single heating process, or is the metal heated and cooled many times to even out the stress within the metal? Multi-step heating processes can create a very strong and reliable sheet metal process. 

Its Strength

Another thing that can tell you the quality of your steel is its tensile strength. While you won't be able to get the tensile strength of every single piece of metal you buy, you can generally get a pretty good idea from your steel fabricator. Many manufacturers of steel do routine testing on their products to get an average of the product's tensile strength. It's a good idea to compare these numbers among the steel fabricators you're considering; a product with a higher strength may actually be cheaper in the long run if it means that you'll need less metal to accomplish your goals. The best way to make sure you''re getting a good deal is to ask plenty of questions of your sheet metal fabricator (such as one from Corsetti Structural Steel Inc) to vet the quality of the materials.