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- Massive Range
- FREE UK Delivery
- Rapid Dispatch
- Massive Range
- FREE UK Delivery
- Rapid Dispatch
In workshops, garages, vans, and industrial spaces, efficient tool storage is essential. A well-organised setup not only boosts productivity but also enhances safety and extends the lifespan of your tools. One material that stands out for creating custom storage solutions is mild steel flat bar.
Known for its durability, affordability, and versatility, mild steel flat bar can be adapted to suit a wide range of storage needs. Whether you’re building wall-mounted tool racks, mobile trolleys, or heavy-duty shelves, this material offers exceptional support and a clean, industrial aesthetic.
At Speciality Metals, we supply a wide selection of mild steel flat bar sizes, thicknesses, and lengths—perfect for your next custom storage project.
Mild steel flat bar is a favourite among tradespeople, fabricators, and DIY enthusiasts for good reason. Its strength-to-weight ratio means it can support substantial loads without warping, making it ideal for heavy tools or equipment. It’s also highly workable: cut it with an angle grinder, drill through it with ease, or weld pieces together for a seamless finish.
Unlike stainless steel, which can be costly, or aluminium, which may lack the necessary toughness for heavy-duty jobs, mild steel offers the perfect middle ground. It is not only cost-effective but also readily available in a wide range of sizes. Whether you need a 3mm bar for a simple hook or a 50mm strip for a shelving frame, Speciality Metals has the stock to match your design.
Sustainability is another benefit. Mild steel is fully recyclable and has a long usable life, making it an environmentally responsible option for storage solutions.
Before cutting steel or assembling components, invest time in thoughtful planning. Begin by taking inventory of your tools, measuring your available space, and sketching a layout. Prioritise ease of access and consider which tools are used most often. Planning helps minimise material waste and avoid design flaws.
You may also want to plan for future additions. Designing with expansion in mind makes your storage setup futureproof—ideal for growing tool collections or evolving workspaces.
Wall-mounted racks made from mild steel flat bar are a great way to clear clutter and maximise space. Weld or bolt flat bar strips horizontally onto a backing frame or directly onto wall studs. This provides a strong base on which to add hooks, magnetic holders, or tool-specific brackets.
For instance, a 25mm x 5mm mild steel flat bar offers enough rigidity for mounting spanners, screwdrivers, or pliers. With careful spacing and custom attachments, even power tools like drills and angle grinders can be supported. At Speciality Metals, this size is available in custom-cut lengths, so you can avoid offcuts and reduce waste.
Tool trolleys are essential for busy environments where portability is key. Mild steel flat bar forms a strong framework for multi-tier carts and rolling storage units. Combine flat bar with mild steel sheet for shelves, and you can build a bespoke unit that moves effortlessly across the floor.
A popular choice is a frame built from 40mm x 5mm flat bar, paired with braced joints and lockable castor wheels. One Speciality Metals customer built a mobile tool station with drawers and an overhead grab rail using only mild steel components. The trolley fit perfectly in a van and rolled easily across job sites.
Below is a helpful comparison of flat bar sizes and typical use cases to guide your selection.
| Flat Bar Size (mm) | Typical Use | Recommended Application Area |
|---|---|---|
| 12 x 3 | Hooks, small tool brackets, light-duty framing | Home workshops, hobbyist projects |
| 20 x 3 | Wall grids for hand tools, small racks | Electricians’ setups, garages |
| 25 x 5 | Tool holders, charging stations, drawer rails | General-purpose tool storage |
| 30 x 4 | Workbench supports, modular shelving | Integrated workbenches, schools |
| 40 x 6 | Mobile trolley frames, medium-duty shelving | Commercial trades, mobile units |
| 50 x 8 | Heavy-duty racks, wall-mounted cabinets | Factories, large garages |
| 60 x 10 | Industrial shelving, overhead supports | Agricultural or industrial sites |
Modern workspaces demand built-in charging areas and efficient cable management. Mild steel flat bar is ideal for constructing strong frames that hold power strips, cable trays, and docking stations. This ensures your tools stay powered and organised.
A charging station built from 30mm x 5mm flat bar offers ample strength. Mount your chargers, add an acrylic cover for dust protection, and wire in an LED strip for visibility. This kind of build keeps batteries safe, organised, and accessible.
If your storage is located in a shed, garage, or van, protect it from rust. Speciality Metals offers flat bar in untreated or zinc-primed form. For best results:
Always clean surfaces thoroughly before applying protective coatings, and regularly inspect joints or fasteners for corrosion.
Steel blends beautifully with other materials to enhance tool storage functionality:
Using mixed materials allows both aesthetic and functional customisation.
Many professionals benefit from modular builds that can evolve with their workspace. For instance, you can start with a two-bay rack and expand it into four by bolting on extensions. Designing around 40mm x 4mm flat bar sections offers excellent strength and compatibility with standard fasteners.
Some advantages of modular storage include:
Speciality Metals frequently supplies materials to customers kitting out service vans or mobile workshops. With limited space and the need for secure transit, mild steel flat bar helps create:
Opt for 30mm–40mm flat bar with corrosion protection for the best results in vehicles.
Your trade defines your tools—and your tools deserve tailored storage. Mild steel flat bar lets you build what you need:
Creating storage suited to your profession saves time, reduces tool damage, and boosts efficiency.
One of the most effective ways to increase workshop productivity is by creating dedicated work zones for specific tasks. With Speciality Metals’ wide range of mild steel flat bar and steel sheet, you can construct custom workstations that clearly separate cutting, assembly, electrical work, and maintenance tasks. For example, a cutting bench can be framed using robust 50mm x 8mm flat bar, supporting a steel sheet surface for resilience under heavy loads. Adjacent to that, a smaller bench made from 25mm x 5mm flat bar could serve as an assembly station for light-duty tasks. These zones can be colour-coded using painted zinc-primed steel, and linked with under-bench tool storage or top-mounted shelving made from the same flat bar profile. Speciality Metals’ cut-to-length service makes it simple to order exact dimensions for seamless construction—eliminating guesswork and minimising scrap material. With this tailored approach, your workshop becomes more structured, your tools easier to find, and your workflow more efficient.
When investing time into a custom storage setup, durability is key. While mild steel flat bar provides a strong and affordable structure, protecting your build from moisture, knocks, and corrosion ensures it stays functional for years. Fortunately, Speciality Metals supplies flat bar in both uncoated and zinc-primed finishes, allowing you to choose the best starting point based on your environment. For indoor use in garages or utility rooms, untreated steel is easy to paint with your preferred colour scheme—perfect for matching existing decor or implementing safety coding. For outdoor storage or mobile units exposed to the elements, choosing pre-primed steel saves time and adds corrosion resistance straight away. You can apply topcoats such as powder-coated finishes, spray enamel, or rubberised sealants directly to the zinc primer for added protection and a professional-grade finish. If your storage design includes welding, simply grind away coating from the joint areas beforehand, and re-coat afterwards. With Speciality Metals’ range of surface-ready options, your steel not only performs well—it looks sharp and lasts longer.
Designing with efficiency in mind is easier when you have the right materials on hand. With products from Speciality Metals, you can integrate smart, time-saving elements into your tool storage:
For heavy-duty environments, build with materials from Speciality Metals to ensure maximum stability and safety:
Speciality Metals is the UK’s go-to supplier for flat bar steel. With nationwide delivery and custom cutting available, we make it easy to start your next project.
Here’s what we offer:
✔ A wide range of flat bar sizes (12mm to 100mm+)
✔ Cut-to-length service—reduce machining time
✔ Bulk discounts for large or repeat orders
✔ Fast UK delivery from our centrally located warehouse
✔ Zinc primed or uncoated options depending on your needs
✔ Friendly, knowledgeable support team
All of our mild steel flat bar is quality-assured, sustainably sourced, and competitively priced.
Designing your own custom tool storage can transform how you use your workspace. With the right planning and materials, you’ll enjoy quicker access to tools, better safety, and a cleaner, more professional setup.
Mild steel flat bar is a powerful material for this task. It’s tough, easy to fabricate, and highly adaptable. Whether you’re mounting tools on a wall, building a rolling workstation, or kitting out a van, you’ll find flat bar a reliable foundation.
Speciality Metals is ready to support your build with:
Speciality Metals
Unit 1, Farrell Street, Warrington,
Cheshire, WA1 2WW, United Kingdom
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