Why do we use Gauge?
Why are sheet metal and the tubing made from it measured in Gauge?
Like many things, there is a long story here.
It starts with producers of metal wire in England. The number known as Gauge was the number of times the wire had been drawn to make it thinner. This explains why higher Gauge numbers mean thinner material.
After some time, these numbers were standardized as Manufacturers Standard Gauge.
The most common Gauge sizes are:
| Gauge | Thickness (in inches) |
|---|---|
| 10 | .1345 |
| 11 | .1196 (~1/8) |
| 12 | .1046 |
| 14 | .0747 |
| 16 | .0598 (~1/16) |
| 18 | .0478 |
Click here for a more comprehensive listing.
Questions? Call our friendly sales staff and we are happy to help.
Categories: Cool Stuff