Buyer Resources

RFQ & sourcing guides

Straight answers for buyers sourcing custom fabricated metal parts — how to prepare an RFQ that quotes fast, how to choose between steel, aluminum, and stainless, and how to tell which fabrication process actually fits your part.

How to Prepare a Custom Metal Fabrication RFQ (Without the Back-and-Forth)

Featured Guide

Sourcing & RFQs

How to Prepare a Custom Metal Fabrication RFQ (Without the Back-and-Forth)

An incomplete RFQ doesn't get rejected — it gets stuck in back-and-forth for days while a shop tracks down the missing piece. Here's exactly what to include so your quote comes back fast and accurate the first time.

2026 9 min read

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Materials

Choosing the Right Material for Your Fabricated Part: Steel vs. Aluminum vs. Stainless

Carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless cover most custom fabricated parts, but the right choice depends on more than just cost. Here's how to weigh strength, weight, corrosion exposure, and fabrication cost against your actual application.

2026 10 min read

Process Selection

Laser Cutting vs. CNC Machining: Which Process Fits Your Part?

These two processes get compared constantly, but they're not really competing for the same job. Here's how to tell which one — or which combination — actually fits your part.

2026 8 min read

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