What is "sheet metal"?

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A little background: I'm a noob welder, youtube trained.   I thought I knew what sheet metal is, but then I read that 6013 is designed for sheet metal.  When I think of sheet metal, I usually envision stuff like 20 gauge and so on.  Do people stick weld 20+ gauge?  I can see 11 gauge, for sure, and maybe somewhat lighter, but if I'm going to weld really lightweight stuff, I'd use MIG.  Is 1/8" flat stock considered sheet metal? I can weld that with 6013 without too much trouble.
Reply:Sheet steel is often considered to be up to about 1/4".Stick welding thin stuff:  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...n-a-stick-weld"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:well the sheet metal trades stop at 10 gauge around here and my structural steel license covers any thing 1/8" or greater.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:It's a bit "fluffy" but as Dualie said, sheet is usually considered up to 10 gauge...then it's referred to as "plate".  I suspect that the nomenclature is old school from rolling mills where "plate" remained flat whereas sheet was able to be rolled into coils for further processing (like tempering).
Reply:Hillary Clinton would say "What difference does it make?" Sheet, plate, gauge metal, it's all the same."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:The supplier here...Sheet= less than 1/4"  Plate= greater than 1/4"My name's not Jim....
Reply:What do you guys consider tin can. Here its 25 gauge. Not to hi jack but, the last couple years one of  my metal stud supplier's has been pushing 25 ga and 20 ga equivalent. They put an extra fold or add dimples to the metal to add equivalent strength. Its not a problem with 20 ga but the 25 ga is so thin its like handling a ten foot razor blade.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmThe supplier here...Sheet= less than 1/4"  Plate= greater than 1/4"
Reply:D1.1 covers structural steel and goes down to 1/8"D1.3 covers sheet metal and goes up to 3/16"I guess if you are welding 5/32" you get to be certified twice!Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:Sheety metal is the crappy stuff from China. "USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I have some 1/16" 6013 that works nicely on 16 gauge. I guess if you have small rod and can set the machine low enough, sheet metal will run just fine.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Originally Posted by StelthA little background: I'm a noob welder, youtube trained.   I thought I knew what sheet metal is, but then I read that 6013 is designed for sheet metal.  When I think of sheet metal, I usually envision stuff like 20 gauge and so on.  Do people stick weld 20+ gauge?  I can see 11 gauge, for sure, and maybe somewhat lighter, but if I'm going to weld really lightweight stuff, I'd use MIG.  Is 1/8" flat stock considered sheet metal? I can weld that with 6013 without too much trouble.
Reply:I weld 12 gage hot rolled frequently with 3/32 7018. I also work with 16gage a lot but end up tig welding it. I should pick up some smaller 6013 for the 16gage.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Most reference guides state up to 3/16" is sheet. All thicker is plate.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:I have only ever heard of sheet being referred to as 11 gauge and up. Everything 1/8" and thicker is plate, at least with the suppliers I've dealt with. I guess if you regularly weld 1/2" and up, 1/8" might seem like sheet though.
Reply:The good ol' Metal Reference Guide from King Architectural Metals (praised in a recent thread here) has plate as being 3/16" and heavier, and sheet being anything under 3/16". Also, some ASTM grades for steel apply only to steel 3/16" and thicker; thinner stock will have a different grade number. For example, weathering steel is A588 but is A606 if it is under 3/16.In general use the line between the two is pretty fuzzy and I don't think there is one absolute dividing line that everyone will agree on.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps