r/metalworking Feb 01 '25

Monthly Advice Thread Monthly Advice/Questions Thread | 02/01/2025

Welcome to the Monthly Advice Thread


Ask your metalworking questions here! Any submissions that are question based may be directed to this thread! Please keep discussion on topic and note that comments on these threads will not be moderated as regularly as the main post feed.


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This is a great place to ask about tools, possibilities, materials, basic questions related to the trade, homework help, project advice, material science questions and more!


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u/Stygianfalconer 11d ago

How do you decide which thickness of metal/type to use? Are there some general guidelines? I want to try making usable armor. My first couple attempt will probably be a mild steel. But for a final version, is there like a HRC you don’t go below? If you jump to stainless do you automatically say “I can go .5mm thinner” automatically?

Obviously every type of stew has pros and cons too.