6061 aluminum flat stock is also commonly referred to as aluminum flat bar stock. An aluminum flat bar is an extruded solid aluminum rectangular bar. It is very easy to work with and manipulate. Many types of fabrication projects that require lightweight materials and corrosion resistance will use aluminum as a base material. You can order aluminum flat bars in various lengths and quantities.
6061 Aluminum
The “T” in the label of aluminum stands for temper. The character directly after the letter T refers to the type of treatment. A T1 would indicate the aluminum was heated during the shaping process, cooled from this elevated temperature, and naturally aged to its stable condition. On the other hand, a T5 aluminum was heated during the shaping process, cooled from its elevated temperature, and then aged artificially. A T6 aluminum was heat treated and artificially aged. A 6061 T-6 aluminum is one of the most popular aluminum flat stock materials. The aluminum was treated to provide the maximum hardening and therefore, provides the most durability.
The Cost
Generally, a 3/16″ x 3″ x 12″ extruded 6061 aluminum flat stock bar costs about 20 dollars. If you are a contractor and need to order a huge supply of aluminum, this cost can quickly exceed thousands of dollars. Luckily, most aluminum flat bar suppliers offer wholesale and discounted prices for contractors. The unit price drastically drops for customers that buy large quantities of aluminum. Some aluminum bar suppliers will offer further discounts when you make them your supplier for all your aluminum needs.
