Flat and round stock dimensions?

[Glen Juntunen]

I had a little free time on my hands recently and ended up measuring some of my steel. I measured a 12 inch 8670 flat bar that was actually 11 7/8. Then I measured a round bar of 52100 that was supposed to be 12 inches by 2 1/16 but actually measured 11 7/8 by 1 1 7/8 inches.
The steel is from 2 different well known suppliers. Is it normal for steel to be shipped to the customer in smaller sizes than advertised?

 

[Taz]

Sometimes due to cutting you may lose some length? AKS lists the exact sizes on their website. Steel is usually oversized unless they ground mill scale down or something? I am surprised there is that much difference diameter wise on the 52100 round stock? Lengthwise, it should be on, but with cutting, sometimes they end up a touch short.

 

[Glen Juntunen]

Sometimes due to cutting you may lose some length? AKS lists the exact sizes on their website. Steel is usually oversized unless they ground mill scale down or something? I am surprised there is that much difference diameter wise on the 52100 round stock? Lengthwise, it should be on, but with cutting, sometimes they end up a touch short.

Me too! Not surprised that the length difference is to the company’s benefit instead of the customer though.

 

[tattooedfreak]

Is your measuring device off by 1/8" ?

 

[Glen Juntunen]

Not likely! I keep an old fashioned stainless ruler handy in the shop.

Is your measuring device off by 1/8" ?

 

[Taz]

It may be due to the kerf of the cut for the length? They may be cutting down a 3' bar and not have extra in the bar itself to make up for the kerf from the cutting? Or operator error!

 

[tattooedfreak]

Not likely! I keep an old fashioned stainless ruler handy in the shop.

Unlikely to have shrunk in the wash then :-D
I suspect the operator has set a line on the wrong side of the cutter, it shouldnt be off that much. And def not on the round