Square Steel

[Brad Manion]

The only kind of square stock I can find easily is plated, sold in 1 foot pieces at local hardware stores. I'm assuming that it is zinc-plated. Does this affect the difficulty of the bend? Also, are such pieces of square steel hot-rolled or cold-rolled? I just wanted to make sure that if I buy more of this type of steel that it is at least somewhat in line with the helpful force calibration chart put out by Eric Milfeld.

[Booyah!!!]

Hi Brad, I believe there are all kinds of square stock. The ones we are currently accustomed to are 1/4 square cold rolled steel and 1/4 square stainless steel. I have bought a piece of the zinc coated square key stock and it was comparable to the CRS and was very expensive for a 1 foot piece. I also have bought some from a local steel co. which was cheaper but I had to cut it and smooth the ends, a bit of a hastle. But, there is http://www.fatbastardbarbellco.com/BENDERSBAG.html

he sells both CRS and Stainless ready to go and IMO at very reasonable price Good luck!!!

[AP]

Most hardware square stock i've found is much easier than the square in eric's chart. All fat bastard stock seems to be much tougher than what I can find. A 1/4" x 6" square from my hardware store is easier than a G8 to bend.

[Tim71]

You know I was just wondering about the zinc plated stuff too. I do mostly long bending and I've noticed that the zinc plated stuff doesn't really bend like typical a-36 hot-rolled steel. Maybe it's a mild cold rolled like 1008 or pickled and oiled or something similiar. If you're limited to lowes type steel then there's not hardly any difference in their hot-rolled and their cold rolled. The zinc plated seems like a halfway step between hot-rolled and good 1018 cold rolled at least to me.

Tim