Over years of producing various steel products, you eventually build and grow your knowledge base of which material and gauge (thickness) to use for the end product.  

I've been asked numerous times "how thick are your signs?".  When I started out, the answer was given in the gauge of the steel.  (in the steel industry, the term "gauge" is used for thickness descriptions.  In the US, imperial decimals)  From the responses received back, either email or in-person, it quickly became obvious, unless you work in the industry, that means nothing!  Nada.  Nothing.  

So I started giving the answer in imperial dimensions.  For instance, 16 gauge is roughly .0598" thick (steel mills have tolerances and are never perfect, but they get pretty close). If you take a caliper or micrometer (fancy measuring device) and measure the thickness, you should roughly get .0598" +/-.  But again, that answer to the "how thick" question was not giving a tangible reply. Something that could easily be understood to compare products from all sellers.

It dawned one day, what's something that everyone has knowledge of...regardless of knowledge/experience you're located in our great country, to give an idea just how thick are Modified Metals signs.  Something tangible.  Something easily understood to demonstrate how "thick" our signs will be when they show up on your doorstep.  Obviously, you spend good money, you want a quality product.  Not a cheap, super flimsy, overseas produced sign as you'll find in the box stores that everyone has hanging on their walls.  Afterall, you wanted something unique, only found here!

So, our signs are made from 16 ga. steel.  16 ga. steel is just a bit thicker than a dime, but just a bit thinner than a nickel.  (Dime is .053", Nickel is .076"- US Mint Coin Specifications)  Simple as that!  16 ga. is in between a dime and nickel!

FYI- There are sellers who make signs in both thinner and thicker than 16 gauge.  Yes, thinner steel (<16 ga.) is cheaper per sheet.  However, if a thinner sign is hung outside on a shed/garden/patio, over time, unless that sign finish is regularly refreshed, it'll give a shorter life, as there's less steel to rust away.  Thicker steel (>16 ga.) costs more.  For the majority of signs that are hung inside, heavier is not necessary.  It makes handling and fastener selection challenging.  They cost more to ship.  Heavy signs hanging by a window,with a breeze, will move and cause the anchors to loosen over time, with the signs possibly falling.  

Be rest assured, our signs are a comfortable compromise between quality, price and long life!