Bent angle iron

[bluedog225]

I don’t buy a lot of steel flat plate or angle iron. The other day, I went in and asked for a piece of 4 x 4 x 20‘ angle iron. They brought a piece out and loaded on my trailer.

I noticed it had a slight been to it. I thought, no big deal that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. When I got it to my guy to cut it and weld it. He complained about the fact that it was bent. Made his job a little harder, but he worked it out.

I was wondering if those guys just brought out a ****** piece of steel for me because they knew I was a small time, one off customer. Sort of like getting the ****** first 10 pieces of plywood at Home Depot that they just restock hoping some dummy will buy it.

or is it normal to get something with a bend to it? I can send it back next time but don’t really know what’s normal.

Thanks

 

[1redTA]

probably luck of the draw

 

[gahrajmahal]

It should have been straight or discounted as bent.

 

[PCustoms]

How "bent" was it?

In which axis?

What was fab guy making, and why didn't he buy his own materials?

 

[bluedog225]

It’s angle iron. Not sure how to describe the axis. Bent in middle. Probably 1.5” over the 20’ run. Why does it matter who buys the material?

appreciate the responses. Nobody wants to be the chump they unload stuff on.

 

[finn]

I suspect it bent in handling a single piece of, so it’s probably common and to be expected.

If you had bought multiple pieces, or a whole bunk, they would self support, especially if tied together, and be much more likely to arrive home straight.


On the other hand, 4” angle should be pretty rigid and self supporting.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I suspect it bent in handling a single piece of, so it’s probably common and to be expected.

If you had bought multiple pieces, or a whole bunk, they would self support, especially if tied together, and be much more likely to arrive home straight.


On the other hand, 4” angle should be pretty rigid and self supporting.

I'd be curious as to the natural deflection of it being unsupported over 20 feet would be ?

 

[NUTTSGT]

It’s angle iron. Not sure how to describe the axis. Bent in middle. Probably 1.5” over the 20’ run. Why does it matter who buys the material?

appreciate the responses. Nobody wants to be the chump they unload stuff on.

Because you are a cash customer, possibly never to come back. The regular fab shop that buys steel everyday or places a weekly order is going to get taken care of.


*****, but yeah.

 

[mike93lx]

Why does it matter who buys the material?

Because Its abnormal to supply your own material to a fab shop

 

[PCustoms]

Because Its abnormal to supply your own material to a fab shop

and a fab shop would have made sure it was suitable for the purpose.

Not knowing the thickness or how it was sitting when it looked bent, 1.5" along 20' sounds excessive. They do sag under their own weight though if unsupported, and will deflect under a strap (but bounce back)

I've never noticed that much permanent bend, but I do usually have mine cut to 10' for handling.

 

[bluedog225]

Because Its abnormal to supply your own material to a fab shop

I brought it to my place where the work was done. No fab shop. Thanks all.

 

[racecougar]

What leg thickness? If it's something like 1/8", it's not unusual for those 20' lengths to get bent up a bit when handling single pieces.

 

[JSGAuto]

I'd be curious as to the natural deflection of it being unsupported over 20 feet would be ?

4x4x.25
2.58"

 

[NUTTSGT]

4x4x.25
2.58"

This is what I was wondering. Maybe someone didn't realize that these would bend under their own weight ?

Over a 20' span, I would think it would be easy to get it straightened back out, if there is supports under it. If it's a twist rather than a sag, it's going to take more work.

 

[PCustoms]

This is what I was wondering. Maybe someone didn't realize that these would bend under their own weight ?

Over a 20' span, I would think it would be easy to get it straightened back out, if there is supports under it. If it's a twist rather than a sag, it's going to take more work.

If it deflected under its own weight, it's not permanent. As soon as the orientation has changed it will bend back

 

[racecougar]

I've dug through this thread twice now; where is it called out that it's 4"x4"x0.250"?

 

[PCustoms]

I've dug through this thread twice now; where is it called out that it's 4"x4"x0.250"?

It's not

But, it's likely with 4" legs that it is at least 1/4" web

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've dug through this thread twice now; where is it called out that it's 4"x4"x0.250"?

It's not but. .

It's not

But, it's likely with 4" legs that it is at least 1/4" web

I would have tended to think the same thing.

Maybe the OP ( @bluedog225 )can clear up wall thickness and possibly a picture to see how bent it actually was before it was put into service, returned or maybe laying on the ground.

 

[racecougar]

Agreed that it's likely, but without knowing the leg thickness, all bets are off.

 

[PCustoms]

Agreed that it's likely, but without knowing the leg thickness, all bets are off.

Nice screenshot showing that you're ignoring me..

 

[JSGAuto]

.250 was my assumption, just doing the calculation for fun. I needed a thickness. to find moment of inertia.

Straightness Variation is probably what we should be discussing thou.

Agreed that it's likely, but without knowing the leg thickness, all bets are off.

 

[bluedog225]

It was 1/4. It’s cut up and welded to the bottom of a barn door now. It was an actual bend. Not just sagging. Maybe it was just at the top of the pile. Or maybe I got the “one off” customer treatment. No big deal. My first purchase at this place. I was thinking of switching where I buy my steel though. Didn’t leave a good impression. Ended up buying 6 grand of cee channel somewhere else.

Though in the future, I’ll check more closely. Never occurred to me that I’d get bent new metal.

 

[metalmagpie]

It can be illuminating to read databooks from steel manufacturers which give their allowable tolerances. Angle iron can be not square or straight and still be within tolerance.

I bought a sheet of 1/4" plate that turned out to be excessively curved. The next time I told the order clerk it had better be flat. It was. Sometimes just being assertive can help.

metalmagpie