Mild steel is the least expensive of all steel and the most common steel used. Used in nearly every type of product created from steel, mild steel is weldable, very hard and, although it easily rusts, very durable. Containing less than 2 percent carbon, mild steel is able to be magnetized and used in most any project that requires a vast amount of metal. The structural strength of mild steel prevents it from being used to create load-bearing girders and structural beams.

Many of the everyday objects that are created of steel are made using mild steel. Automobile chassis, motorcycle frames and most cookware are made using mild steel. Due to the poor corrosion-resistance of mild steel, it must be painted or otherwise protected and sealed in order to prevent rust from damaging it. A light coat of oil or grease is able to seal mild steel and aid in rust control.

Unlike high-carbon steel, mild steel is easily welded. The properties of the steel allow the electrical current to travel through the steel without distorting the makeup of the material. Other types of high-carbon steel, such as stainless steel, require special welding techniques in order to properly weld the material. Being less brittle than high-carbon steels, the mild variant is able to flex and give in constructions where a higher-carbon version could simply break.

Most of the pipeline in the world is created using a mild version of steel. This mild makeup allows the pipe to not only be easily welded into place, but also lets the pipeline flex and avoid cracking and breaking under pressure. The corrosive properties of the steel pipeline dictate that proper sealing of the pipe be accomplished through painting or a process often used on pipelines that involves wrapping the pipe with a corrosive-resistant material.

Often in very cold climates, a warming type of insulating material is wrapped around the pipeline. This material promotes warmth in the pipeline, which aids the cold liquid inside the pipeline in running smoothly through the pipe. The wrap also prevents the soft mild pipe material from becoming brittle and cracking. The constant expansion and shrinkage due to cold and warmth cycling in the mild pipe creates structural integrity that is held in check by the insulating wrap. On a much smaller scale, household pipes can be kept warm and prevented from becoming cold and breaking by the use of electrical heating tape.