Metal Melting Points: A Practical Guide for Fabricators and Welders

Understanding the exact melting temperatures of metals is essential for fabricators and welders. As a metal heats, it gradually softens and can begin to warp long before reaching its full melting point. For practical purposes, the melting point is defined as the temperature at which the metal becomes completely liquid, the so‑called liquidus.

When you need to join two metals with very different melting points—such as copper and steel—brazing often outperforms welding. In brazing, an oxy‑acetylene torch heats a low‑melting filler metal (typically a brass alloy). The filler melts and flows into the joint; the base metals never reach their own melting temperatures, so the joint remains solid once the filler cools, but it is not a permanent fusion.

Welding vs. Brazing

Welding fuses two metal pieces by heating both to their melting point, creating a liquid pool in which the metal atoms fully intermix. A filler metal is frequently added to the pool, and when the molten metal solidifies the parts are bonded with an unbreakable seam.

Choosing the right joining method depends largely on the melting temperatures of the materials involved. A large disparity can cause one part to melt faster, leading to blowouts or weak joints.

The table below lists the melting points of common metals and alloys, presented from lowest to highest. Note that the exact value can vary with alloy composition.

• Lead – 621 °F (327 °C)
• Aluminum – 1,218 °F (659 °C). Alloying can shift this range from ~848 °F (453 °C) to 1,230 °F (666 °C). Adding aluminum to other metals typically lowers their melting points.
• Bronze – 1,675 °F (913 °C). Bearing bronze (copper + lead + zinc) melts at 1,790 °F (977 °C). Silicon bronze (≈96 % Cu + Si) melts at 1,880 °F (1,025 °C).
• Brass – 1,700 °F (927 °C)
• Copper – 1,981 °F (1,083 °C)
• Cast iron – 2,200 °F (1,204 °C)
• Steel – 2,500 °F (1,371 °C)
• Stainless steel – 2,750 °F (1,510 °C)
• Nickel – 2,646 °F (1,452 °C)
• Wrought iron – 2,700 °F (1,482 °C)
• Iron – 2,800 °F (1,538 °C)
• Tungsten – 6,150 °F (3,399 °C) – its extraordinary melting point makes it ideal for TIG welding electrodes.

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