Help - Is my tube 14 or 16 Guage ?

[Ewok]

Help - just picked up some 3/4" ERW x 14 guage tube I orderd from a stockist.
The wall thickness measures 1.65 / 1.7mm
I thought 14 guage should be 2.0mm. Do the wall thicknesses come out a bit under size or over size usually? Have I got the 14 guage I ordered or have I been given 16 guage? - Any help would be gratefully recieved. I dodn't want to jump up and down and make a fool of myself?

Cheers, Ewok.

 

[Arsonista]

If that was sheet it would be 16 swg.

 

[pedrobedro]

!4g is 1.9mm nominal so you will get some variation due to the rolling and welding process but 1.6mm is more likely 16g. If it is varying over 1.6mm it is unlikely to be 16g as it starts out at that before rolling. What are you measuring it with and what are you using it for as 0.2mm is not going to make a lot of difference strength wise to your project.

 

[Paul.]

Sounds like they've given you 16swg to me, the rolling process for ERW shouldn't effect the wall thickness, it starts out a a flat strip is formed up and resistance butt welded to make the seam. I've just measured up a piece of 2" x 2" 14swg erw, it measures 2.02mm

 

[Ewok]

Thanks everyone. I've got some 6" digital callipers. Using the tips of those to measure. I just checked them on some 2mm plate which I checked with a micrometer - both read 1.9mm therefore callipers should be OK.

I'm using the tube to make a tow hitch frame for a motorcycle. I just want to use the strongest 3/4" tube.

So the consensus is that its 16 Gauge - which would imply that 14 gauge might be just over 2.0mm. Would the folding into a tube tend to thicken the metal?

Has anyone got the weights for 14/16 Gauge 3/4" tube - ordinary steel ERW - If I weigh a length that should tell me???

 

[Ewok]

Just found some steel tables for tube which gives 16 guage as .065" (1.651mm) and 14 guage as 0.083" (2.108mm). I think it's 16 guage.

 

[eddie49]

Online material weight calculator: http://www.ralingroup.co.uk/weights.html

 

[Ewok]

Just took them to task and they admitted it was 16 gauge. 14 gauge replacement on its way. Doesn’t help me get my job done today though...

Thanks for your help guys. I'll try and contribute something back to the forum :-)