Which 8mm roundbar (black or bright steel)?

[Mart63]

Need a bit of advice please if it's not too much trouble. I have a student project where I will be making table legs from 8mm round bar. The idea is to heat and bend the bar to form a hairpin shape and then weld a piece of flat bar across the open ends that will be drilled and screwed to the underside of the table top Been looking at online suppliers of steel and they list black and bright steel. As I don't know the difference I looked on Google and although there were several explanations I'm still not totally sure what the difference is. Can I heat, bend and weld black steel without any problems?. Price is an issue and the black stuff is much cheaper. I'm thinking that the bright stuff is made to higher tolerances and more suitable for lathe work although I could be completely wrong. T.I.A.

 

[rtbcomp]

This is as good an explanation as I've seen

https://www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk/difference-between-black-steel-and-bright-drawn-steel/

 

[WorkshopChris]

Yes you basically have the right idea.

Bright is normally used when thee item is going to be machined either in a lathe or mill and is finished to a much higher tolerance.
Black is generally used in fabrication, when components are welded together. Its made to a lover tolerance.

For your yes black will probably be fine.
Dont know where you are but have you looked a fh brundle for steel they also stock some short 3m lengths.
http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/groups/30__Steel

 

[Mart63]

Thanks gentlemen, most helpful information. We're just down the road from FH Brundle, didn't know they existed. I'll place an order tomorrow.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Thanks gentlemen, most helpful information. We're just down the road from FH Brundle, didn't know they existed. I'll place an order tomorrow.

Not sure if you are aware but they also have a trade counter, if you only want a few bits.
You order at the sales counter pay and get your paperwork then drive down the other end of the building and hand you paperwork to the warehouse guy's who wonder off and pick your order.

 

[Mart63]

Thanks Chris. I'd love to save the delivery charge if I could but I'll struggle to get 3m lengths in a Vauxhall Astra. Might have a measure up and see if I can squeeze it in. We're only down the road in Grays, so not far at all.

 

[Mee]

Its made to a lover tolerance

I daren't ask Chris.

 

[Bladevane]

I like the idea of a "lover tolerance". Isn't spoll chuck a great thing?

 

[WorkshopChris]

I like the idea of a "lover tolerance". Isn't spoll chuck a great thing?

I did not notice that, problem is lover tolerance was spelt ok so no little squiggly red line, i just need Google to come up with a context checker.

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Thanks Chris. I'd love to save the delivery charge if I could but I'll struggle to get 3m lengths in a Vauxhall Astra. Might have a measure up and see if I can squeeze it in. We're only down the road in Grays, so not far at all.

They will cut to length for you both problem. Just ask. Also work out exactly how much you need. Those hairpin legs do use more than you'd expect.