Plans to make Rock Sliders/Steps, Please help me get the right metal.

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So basically I would like to make some rock sliders/steps for my Jeep. My plans were to use these guys www.discountsteel.com being they are only about 30 minutes from me. I need about 16 feet of Steel Pipe/Tube for the main part.I would like it to be 2 inches wide, with a wall of 1/8" I would assume is enough.  These sliders should be able to take the weight of the vehicle and hold up just fine.  The problem I am running into is that they have so many metals listed and I do not know the differences.  Hot roll, cold rolls, mild, more more more. Which would be best for my application? I would like to stay cheap but do the job right. I will be running .035 flux core wire in my Clarke 130EN 110V.Links would be great (on the discount steel site), or what kinds of metal.Also, whats the difference between tube and pipe? lolI'm 21 and learningAvid 4wd enthusiastASE Master tech (Automotive), mechanic/fabricator by trade
Reply:This is close. I see they don't have the full range to chose from. http://www.discountsteel.com/index.c.../itemID/47.htmScroll till you see 2-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 11gauge, 20 foot stick, $60.00Last edited by Sandy; 03-14-2008 at 01:11 AM.
Reply:Every body has a different idea of sliders. It's one thing to ooze over a rounded rock and drag a little.  Most anything will do. In that case put your efforts into cosmetics.  The normal event is to be gawking off to the landscape, drop off the backside of a jagged rock and ka-boom. Door won't open. In that case build them heavy, tight to the rocker and he11 for stout. Forget the step idea and all the cosmetics. Or you can just buy some real cute little granny steps and tell every one they are sliders.
Reply:I am working on the same plan for my fullsize chevy.this link can help explain the differences in tube and pipe for you.http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techart...ing/index.htmlget some pics and let us know how it turns out.
Reply:2 inch square tubing is the measure from one outside wall to outside wall, (o.d.).  Pipe dimension is inner dimensions are measured.  Tubing is structrual, and you can specify the wall thickness. Pipe is designed for caryring stuff throug it and has a nominal wall thickenss, depending on what you purchase (schedule 40, schedule 80...).  2 inch pipe is larger than 2 inch tubing.Last edited by tapwelder; 03-14-2008 at 10:56 AM.
Reply:I would use 1/4" wall 2" square tube or bigger.   I doubt 1/8" wall will hold up to hard use.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I didnt think 1/8" would hold up too well either at least to major use but I am running a Clarke 130EN Fluxcore and I dont know how fun it would be to weld 1/4 beads everywhere with that.  3/16" is the maximum it says although I am sure it will do it.  So I want pipe...What about hot rolled vs cold rolled vs mild steel?I'm 21 and learningAvid 4wd enthusiastASE Master tech (Automotive), mechanic/fabricator by trade
Reply:"However, pipe is produced for moving liquids and gases, not structural applications, and tubing is held to much tighter chemistry control than pipe. Plus, pipe is measured by the inner diameter (ID) where tubing is measured by the outer diameter (OD). "I'm 21 and learningAvid 4wd enthusiastASE Master tech (Automotive), mechanic/fabricator by trade
Reply:Originally Posted by redhatman"However, pipe is produced for moving liquids and gases, not structural applications, and tubing is held to much tighter chemistry control than pipe. Plus, pipe is measured by the inner diameter (ID) where tubing is measured by the outer diameter (OD). "
Reply:Originally Posted by redhatmanI didnt think 1/8" would hold up too well either at least to major use but I am running a Clarke 130EN Fluxcore and I dont know how fun it would be to weld 1/4 beads everywhere with that.  3/16" is the maximum it says although I am sure it will do it.  So I want pipe...What about hot rolled vs cold rolled vs mild steel?
Reply:Wow, and half the structures in the oilfield are built out of used line pipe. I can't even count all of the engineered support columns I have built out of 3 and 4 inch schedule 40 and up pipe. Structural tubing = tubing that will no longer hold liquids. All of the oil that comes out of oilwells flows through tubing to get to the surface. The only pipe involved in getting it to the surface is the casing that lines the hole. Tubing is sized based on the ID of the tube. Pipe sizing is the standard industry designation and isn't based off of ID or OD, both of which change as the schedule changes. Hot rolled and cold rolled are both mild steel. The 1/4 wall square tube is still your best bet. Any pipe tough enough will require multiple passes as well. Without 100% penetration your welds will likely just tear loose.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerWow, and half the structures in the oilfield are built out of used line pipe. I can't even count all of the engineered support columns I have built out of 3 and 4 inch schedule 40 and up pipe. Structural tubing = tubing that will no longer hold liquids. All of the oil that comes out of oilwells flows through tubing to get to the surface. The only pipe involved in getting it to the surface is the casing that lines the hole. Tubing is sized based on the ID of the tube. Pipe sizing is the standard industry designation and isn't based off of ID or OD, both of which change as the schedule changes. Hot rolled and cold rolled are both mild steel. The 1/4 wall square tube is still your best bet. Any pipe tough enough will require multiple passes as well. Without 100% penetration your welds will likely just tear loose.
Reply:The pipe stuff came straight out of the American Standards for pipe (their words even). Factual enough for me. They even have a table that shows the differences in ID and OD from one schedule to another for the same size pipe. Every drop of oil that comes out of the ground flows from the bottom of the well to the top through tubing and it's sole purpose is to conduct liquids from one point to another. My mistake on the tube sizing I meant OD (should have been sleeping instead of typing). We use tubing for many things always dealing with getting liquids or gases from one point to another. I think we use totally different tubing maybe. Lines made of tubing aren't welded but screw together, have no seams, and upsets on the ends (so that no wall thickness, or strength, is lost to the threads) much like drill pipe (probably tubing as well, but I've never heard it called anything but drill pipe or drill stem). Flow lines are built using welded pipe, screw pipe or tubing. Welded flowlines are a rarity (probably because a roustabout gang is much cheaper than a crew of welders), screw pipe is only used for low pressure lines and tubing is used for high pressure. Practically all of the accessories we build for our 4 wheel drives are built using pipe and weld connections (why order structural tube when used pipe can be purchased for pennies on the dollar). It's all over the place and we have really mean rocks out there. The tubing is almost always magnetized by the time it is relegated to structural use, doesn't weld well, and the welds are subject to fail just laying on the ground. Failure is much more of a concern than weight as it is a loooooong walk to the nearest phone (there may not be another person within 30+ miles of you) and most of the time your cell phone is useless once you get to 4 wheeling areas. In the last year I have built around 3 dozen engineered support columns and the material specified was schedule 40 X 3 inch pipe for the majority but 4 called for schedule 80 X 4 inch. I also built an additional 10 out of .120 wall 3 inch square tube, also specified by the engineer. All were for commercial or residential structures and not in the oilfield. I myself like square tubing and when used in the right way it will handle structural loading from the side that round tubes and pipes of the same size and weight can't. I have no engineering data to support that, just observation of what failed, why it failed and how continued failures were resolved. Engineers in the oilfield frequently design structural members and even the entire framework for buildings and such using pipe, not tubing, but that could have something to do with availability. Why buy structural tubing when you have 10,000 joints of pipe laying around already paid for.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Oh, and if you say the stuff you recommended will work I accept that it will.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Jolly Roger, thank you for telling us what kind of pipe and fittings you are using in the field there. It is always interesting to learn about the other types of steelwork being done. And I am not disagreeing with you on the using of the pipe/ tube available. I would assume your piping is all very good grade, spec'd stuff, and probably overkill due to its' primary use carrying oil/ chemicals, etc. and, I would really like to know- why/ how does the tubing get magnetized during use?? I gotta know!!! Thanks, Paul.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloJolly Roger, thank you for telling us what kind of pipe and fittings you are using in the field there. It is always interesting to learn about the other types of steelwork being done. And I am not disagreeing with you on the using of the pipe/ tube available. I would assume your piping is all very good grade, spec'd stuff, and probably overkill due to its' primary use carrying oil/ chemicals, etc. and, I would really like to know- why/ how does the tubing get magnetized during use?? I gotta know!!! Thanks, Paul.
Reply:I would assume that if its drill pipe and rotating, its like passing a nail by a magnet repeatedly. the nail will become magnetized. The earth is a big magnet so why won't repeated rotaion in it magnetize the pipe? Just thinking out loud not really sure if I'm right or not but it sounds good.