Plate delivered in a roll?

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Somewhere on this forum I read that thin plate is delivered in a roll and then upon delivery is straightened and then cut. This type of plate is commonly not perfectly flat. The plate referenced was 1/2" plate which doesn't seem all that thin to me.What size plate should you get to make sure it's going to be perfectly flat? I'm wanting to make a 4'x8' welding table. Thanks.
Reply:i've seen coils of sheet metal. when it's not flat and or torn it's called distressed metal. that's usually the first production runs of a new mini-mill.  i never heard of 1/2 in plate being marketed like that.  what are you building? unless you're in the aero-space industry a road plate is usually good enough for a work bench. mine is 5/8 with 2x2 in square tubing supporting it. if you're looking for a really versatile bench and have some dough laying around check out acorn platens. you can't do much better than that.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:That is where hot rolled vs cold rolled and the various grades come in. How heavy of top depends how you use it. Just laying pieces on it to weld 1/4" is fine start clamping and straightening  1" or more may be needed. A good steel supplier should help pick the right material once you get dimensionsMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:This is just a welding table for my farm shop. I was planning on 1" plate. At our other shop we have a 4'x8' table with 1/4" top and 2x2 for a frame. I built it while I was in high school and it has served us well. I really haven't felt like I was limited by that table, but I figured I might try to make something a bit more versatile with this table.The main thing I want is for it to be relatively flat. I've never really analyzed it very closely, but I would imagine that the 1/4" table I built in high school is only as flat as the frame underneath it which may not be that great. I thought with 1" plate I could safely clamp stuff down on it and know for sure that when I welded two pieces together, they would be in the same plane.
Reply:Even one inch plate will not be "perfectly" flat.  The heaviest coils I have seen were 3/8 thick.  It is a very efficient way to ship plate.  The steel supplier has a flying shear that uncoils the stock, straightens it and cuts to length.   Years ago I was on a job that needed something like 20 tons of 3/8 th plate some odd size.  The steel supplier was willing to cut to the length but could not guarantee accuracy.  The boss decided to order it a bit too long.  The whole shipment was EXACTLY the amount too long.  I had the pleasure of shearing all those plates to length.
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechman...The steel supplier has a flying shear that uncoils the stock, straightens it and cuts to length...
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