Aluminum 6061-T6511 Rectangular Bar 5" x 3/8" Retail Price

About 6061|The default aluminum for machine shops. If nobody specified an alloy, it’s probably 6061-T6. Good strength, good corrosion resistance, welds well, and anodizes nicely. The machinability reputation is “good” but experienced machinists know it can be inconsistent lot to lot. Some batches cut clean, others get gummy and produce stringy bird’s-nest chips, especially on lathes. 7075 actually chips better, but costs roughly twice as much per pound. 6061 is the alloy you reach for unless you have a specific reason not to. Compare to 7075 (stronger, chips better, costs more) and 6063 (weaker, better surface finish, designed for extrusions).

About Rectangular Bar|Solid rectangular cross-section stock. Functionally similar to flat bar but typically available in thicker, chunkier profiles. The naming varies by supplier — what one calls rectangular bar, another calls flat bar. Used for keys, gibs, wear strips, brackets, and any part where a rectangular starting profile saves setup time versus milling from plate.