Types of steel

[emoseman]

Dumb question...

Is there a steel square tube product that doesn't have the rolled outer edges? I'm guesing that is what hot "rolled" means, that the edges are actually bent around a square form. What I'm looking for is what aluminum square tube is shaped like, 90 degree outer edges.

Thanks!

--
Evan

[boilerman79]

Ive never given it any thought,but now that you bring it up.i have never seen steel tube that didnt have the rounded edge.

[marbern]

I have seen square tube in aluminum (with square edges), some commercial buildings use this for gutter or roof drain spouts.

[Sberry]

No, that is not what hot roll means. Hot roll is the process by which it is made.

[enlpck]

You MAY be able to find it as an archatectural shape in steel. It isn't common because it is a pain to make. Because Aluminum is soft and has a low melt point, Aluminum shapes are generally extruded rather than rolled (think play-doh fun factory). This is cheap and gives a lot of flexibility in profiles.

For practical purposes, steel can't be extruded. Steel is generally rolled, and for tubular products, a sharp corner requires a great deal of plastic action at the corner (the 'thickness' is very much greater there). Steel doesn't like this, and the process gets more expensive.

[emoseman]

ahh I see thanks for the info. thought I would just throw the question out there :)