How do I Choose the Right Steel Plate Option?
Certain financial and logistical factors must be considered when choosing steel plates for a project. Such factors include whether you want to buy new or used steel plates, the plates’ size requirements, how freight factors into your budget and timeline, what steel standards are required for the job, and more. Here, we provide an overview to help you choose the right steel plates for your project.
Should You Buy New or Used Steel Plates?
Both new and used steel plates come with their own set of pros and cons. Since new steel plates have never been used before, the structural integrity is known to be solid and there will be no wear and tear to contend with. Furthermore, new steel comes with certifications. The downside of purchasing new steel plates is that they cost more and may take longer to arrive since the steel may first need to be rolled before it is shipped.
If cost or timing is an issue, used steel plates are a great alternative. Used steel plates have the advantage of being lower in price, sometimes for the exact same product. Used steel plates are ready for immediate use since they don't need to be manufactured. Additionally, they sometimes have mill certifications available, and in many cases, used steel provides you with a comparatively high-quality result.
On the other hand, used steel plates often come with wear and tear. Furthermore, they cannot always be custom made to fit a project’s exact needs and they are not guaranteed to come with certifications.
What Steel Plate Sizes Do You Need?
Once you've decided whether you are buying new steel plates or used steel plates, the next question to consider is sizing. Steel plates are made of steel that is commonly at least one inch thick, though their thickness will depend on the speed of traffic moving over the plate. Thickness options range from under 1” thick to over 3”.
Some common sizes for 1-inch-thick steel road plates include: 4×4, 4×6, 4×8, 4×10, 4×12, 4×16, 5×8, 5×10, 5×12, 5×16, 6×8, 6×10, 6×12, 6×16, 8×10, 8×12, 8×16, 8×20.
How Does Freight Factor into Your Budget and Timeline?
Sometimes, steel plates must be transported across long distances to reach a project’s site. This can be costly and may include shipping delays. When considering your next steel plate purchase, it's a good idea to factor in the location from which the steel is shipping. Picking the right option at the nearest location can save money in freight costs and time in transportation.
What Is the Steel Standard?
Steel standards are a system for classifying, evaluating, and specifying the chemical and mechanical properties of different types of steels. These can vary by the mill and supplier of your steel plates, so it's important to take the steel standard into account before making a purchase.
Final Thoughts
Thankfully, Eiffel Trading offers both brand new and used steel plate options. Both are great options, and the final decision will be dependent on the needs of your specific project.
Buy and Sell with Eiffel Trading
Like we mentioned above, Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace offers both brand new steel plate and used steel plate options. Furthermore, our equipment and material inventory ranges to include used steel sheet pile, used pile breakers, brand new h pile beams, used pipe pile, and so much more.
All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing.
Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.