How to Measure Sheet Steel

Metal that is manufactured in thin, flat pieces is called sheet metal and can be made from a variety of metals, including steel. Sheet metal is used for a number of crafts, including automobile and aircraft assembly, buildings and construction, machines and even decorative uses. These sheets come in an array of shapes and sizes and need to be properly measured for cutting and fitting. But even the largest sheets can be measured using a tape measure.

Instructions

1

Pull the tab or latch out from the case, and slide the measuring tape out a few inches.

2

Place the tab on one end of the sheet steel, and pull the tape case clear over the surface to the opposite edge of the sheet, making sure the tab is resting securely on the other end.

3

Read the markings on the tape, which appear as lines, with large bold numbers representing millimeters, centimeters, inches and feet. The mark that lines up to the end opposite of where the tab is sitting will be the right measurement. Most standard measuring tapes will come in lengths of tens of feet.