Various shapes and sizes of steel are available for different purposes. Blooms, billets, and slabs arrive at finishing mills, where they are formed into its final shape. These mills shape steel into (1) bar, rod, and wire; (2) sheet, strip, and plate; (3) pipe and tube; (4) rail and structural shapes.

 steel is rolled into shape while red hot  rough, dull exterior finish (oxides)  imprecise dimensions and corners  relatively inexpensive  easier to form than CRS

 steel is rolled into final shape after cooling  smooth, shiny exterior finish  precise dimensions and corners  more expensive than HRS  easier to machine than HRS

The five shape categories are based on the geometry and dimensions of the cross section:  Bar  Sheet  Plate  Tube and Pipe  Structural

 In general, bar stock is 3 inches or less in maximum cross-sectional dimension. Anything larger is considered a structural shape, although there is some overlap. Lengths are commonly 20 feet (240 inches), but 40 foot lengths are available.

 Angle “H x W x T x L” › 90 degree angle, unless special ordered.  Ex: 1 x 1 x 1/8 x 240 Angle › Legs may be of unequal lengths.  Ex: 2 x 1-1/2 x 1/4 x 240 Angle  Flat“T x W x L” › “W” is less than 9.  Ex: 1/4 x 1 x 240 Flat

 Round“OD x L” › OD is outside diameter.  Ex: 3/4 x 240 Round  Square“S x L” › Ex: 1 x 240 Square  Channel“W x F x T x L” › Ex: 2 x 1 x 3/16 x 240 Channel

 Sheet steel is less than 3/16 and may be coated on uncoated. Coated usually means galvanized or tin plated. Sheet thickness for ferrous metals is measured in gauge (U.S. Standard Gauge, Manufacturer’s Standard Gauge). The thickness reads one gauge thicker (a lower number) for a coated sheet. That is, a 24 gauge galvanized sheet is 24 gauge steel that has been coated with zinc, and read 23 gauge. To be sure, a decimal thickness should also be specified. Hot rolled (“black iron sheet steel”) is prone to rust but easy to paint, while cold rolled is stiffer and springier that hot rolled.

 Sheet“T x W x L” “T” is less than 3/16. › Ex: 16 Ga. x 48 x 96 Galvanized Sheet Steel › Ex: x 36 x 120 Sheet Aluminum  Ferrous metals use the U.S. Standard gauge; nonferrous metals use the English Standard Wire gauge. Exceptions: Aluminum uses decimal or fractional inches; Copper uses ounces per square foot; Tin Plate uses a base box weight, which is unique (and peculiar) to the tin industry. Example: 24 Ga. sheet steel ≈ sheet aluminum ≈ 18 oz. sheet copper

 Steel plate is 3/16 or thicker, while the width is 9 or greater. › Extreme sizes can range up to thicknesses of 15 inches.  Plate“T x W x L” › Thickness ≥ 3/16; Width ≥ 9.  Ex: 1/2 x 48 x 96 Carbon Steel Plate  Ex: 1 x 96 x 1140

 Tubing is mostly used for structural applications. Tubing may be made by welding (has an internal seam) or by extrusion (has no seam).  Round“OD x T x L” › Ex: 2 x 1/8 x 240 HREW tubing  HREW has an internal seam. › Ex: 1 x x 240 DOM tubing  DOM has no seam.  Rectangular“H x W x T x L” › Square is a subset of rectangular.  Ex: 2 x 2 x 1/8 x 240 Square Tubing  Ex: 1 x 2 x 3/16 x 240 Rectangular Tubing

 Used for construction and internal pressure applications. Even though pipe comes in different wall thicknesses, the outer diameter is kept constant in order to screw into pipe fittings. Standard lengths are 21 feet or 42 feet (252 in. or 504 in.).  Pipe“NomID x SCH# x L” › NomID is nominal inside diameter.  Ex: 3/4 x SCH40 x 252 Pipe  Typical schedules are 40 (standard wall), 80 (heavy wall), and 160(extra heavy wall).

 Large and heavy steel sections, used for buildings, bridges, and other types of construction work. Commonly available lengths are 20, 40, and 60 feet.  “I”-Beam“Designation x H x 1b/ft x L” › Heights of S-beams are exact.  Ex. S 8 x 23 x 480 Standard Beam  Heights of W-beams are nominal. › Ex. W 12 x 50 x 480 Wide- › Flange Beam Weights differ due to varying web thicknesses and flange widths.  Channel“Designation x W x lb/ft x L” › Ex. C 5 x 9 x 240 Standard Channel  Angle“Designation x H x W x T x L” › Ex. L 4 x 4 x 3/4 x 240 Structural Angle

 Expanded metal is a sheet that has had slits cut in it, then expanded. The metal may be cold rolled after slitting to flatten it. To order, read the manufacturer’s specifications to get what you want.  Expanded Metal  “Pitch x Gauge x Style x SWDLength x LWDLength” › Pitch is nominal SWD bond-to-bond width. Gauge is thickness (before flattening). R is Regular (Standard or unflattend); F is flattened. › Ex: 3/4 x #13F x 48 x 96 Carbon Steel