Page 17 - newsleter 2

Do you know the (WT). OD minus 2 times WT rolls. No matter what its final
difference between Pipe (schedule) determine the inside shape, it always starts out round!
and Tube? diameter (ID) of a pipe, which de- Tubes are indicated with outer di-
termines the liquid capacity of the ameter (OD) and wall thickness
People often think that both pipe. In our industry, when we (WT), in inches or in millimeters.
are the same. They both can be talk about pipe, we tend to call In our industry, buyers often refer
seamless or welded. However, out an (ID) and schedule, like 2 to the item they want as an (OD)
there are significant differences inch schedule 40, or 14 inch ex- and a wall thickness (WT). Ex-
between pipe and tube. A pipe tra heavy. Examples of walls or amples of wall thicknesses are
is round. A tube can be round, schedules are Sch. 40, Sch. 80, 11 gauge, 1/4”, 3/8” and 5/8”.
square, rectangular or oval in Sch. Standard (STD), Sch. XS/ Tubing is sold in 20, 24, 40 and
shape. Pipes are primarily de- XH, and Sch. XXS. Most pipe 48 foot lengths, but can be eas-
signed to carry fluids and gases, is sold in 21 or 42 foot lengths. ily produced in custom lengths.
regardless of what industry they
are deployed. Tubes can also What is Tubing?
transport fluids and gases, but
are typically designed for many The word tube refers to round,
more applications than pipe, square, rectangular and oval
including industrial, medical, aer- hollow sections that are used
ospace, military, transportation for pressure equipment, for me-
and architecture and construc- chanical applications, and for
tion. instrumentation systems. Steel
tubing can be made from various
What is Pipe? raw materials, like iron, carbon,
manganese, vanadium and zir-
Pipe has been produced in the conium. Like pipe, tubing can be
US since the early 1800’s. Pipe produced as either seamless or
is a hollow section with a round welded. Seamless tubing is a sol-
cross section, primarily made for id block of steel that is rolled into
the transportation of products. a round shape and then pierced
The products include fluids, gas, and stretched into its final length.
pellets, powders and more. But Think of taking a wad of Play-Doh
steel pipes are used in a varie- and rolling it into a cylinder. Then
ty of ways. They are used un- push your finger through the mid-
derground for transporting water dle and make it longer with the
and gas throughout cities and extra doh. That’s how it’s pro-
towns. They are also specified in duced, but it’s hot and spinning
construction to protect electrical and completely done with ma-
wires. Steel pipes can be strong, chines. Welded steel tubing, on
but lightweight. This makes them the other hand, is made from coil.
great for bicycle frames. They The coil is slit and then rolled up
are also used in the making of into a round shape and the ends
parts for automobiles, refrigera- are welded together. From there,
tion units, heating and plumbing the tubing can simply be cut to a
systems, flagpoles and street certain length as round tubing,
lamps, just to name a few. The or it can be further deformed into
most important dimensions for a other shapes, such as square, METAL EXPLAINED
pipe is the outer diameter (OD) rectangular, oval, etc. This is
together with the wall thickness done by pulling it through sizing WITH EDDIE TOTH