What grade steel for an axle

[The Artilleryman]

Building a small passenger trailer - for my miniature traction engine - might need to change from 1" tube to 1" solid bar, but what grade steel.
I know I can't use EN1A - as it will be welded in place - but I've seen EN8, EN24 & black round bar.
Wheels have roller bearings and it's low speed only - less than 4MPH.

 

[steve t]

What's wrong with mild steel?

 

[Munkul]

EN8 is good for general purpose stub axles, pins and spigots. Easily welded and easily turned.

 

[The Artilleryman]

What's wrong with mild steel?

As in EN1a, not recommended for welding.

 

[wyn]

As in EN1a, not recommended for welding.

En1a has extra lead to make it easier to machine. It's not bog standard mild steel.

 

[tigdlo]

En3b would be the choice for weldable mild steel, what size and material is the tube? dependint how it's loaded there might be no point going for the stronger and more expensive en8 or en14

 

[carbonarc]

Whilst full details regarding the proposed trailer are not known just for comparison.
A 1" diameter solid mild steel bar used for a 2 wheeled axel will easily support a load of 1100lb.
A 1" diameter tube with a wall thickness of 10 SWG used with a similar arrangement will support 636lb.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Gone for 1" tube at the moment. Finishing off the last few welding jobs, then I need to work out the coupling to the engine. So hopefully it will be ready for our next rally.

 

[Bobupndown]

Some pictures please.

 

[The Artilleryman]

I'll post a few photo's when I've got the welding finished and it's on it's wheels (on the ground), at the moment it's upside down on the welding bench with a length of tube clamped to the draw bar so it doesn't fall off

 

[The Artilleryman]

Still being worked on - over engineered - upside down.

And as this is a welding forum
The bad - not having a good afternoon that day

To the good