Also known as mild steel, low-carbon steel is easy to machine, form, and weld. It's widely fabricated into parts that don’t require high strength.

Sulfur is added to these sheets, which helps them produce smaller chips than other low-carbon steel sheets when they’re machined. Smaller chips mean less clogging and more coolant flow while you cut.

Containing more carbon than low-carbon steel—but less than 1095 spring steel—1050 spring steel is easily formed into parts such as washers, brackets, and springs before being hardened for use.

These sheets have a softened temper, which is also known as annealed, so they can be easily formed into shape and then heat treated for spring properties.