Thread: New steel, know what you're getting!!!

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Originally Posted by ojh

What was the outside finish like? Did it look just like American DOM? or do you have to bend it to tell?
the scary thing is that much of the tubing sold gets cut and used in straight sections or just a slight 'kick'. Its been a while since i bought dom and while i don't remember labeling or country of origin being printed on it i do recall that it had a high quality finish.
I bet tons of that stuff will show up in those strut kits from people like competition engineering intended to be used as straight pieces for main hoop back braces, seat back brace and short diagonals.

It's not printed on the tubing, but your supplier should have a product sheet on the tubing, much like the MSDS that comes with paint materials. Anyway, externally it looked like regular good quality DOM tubing, no flaws visible until it was in the bender. Talked to a couple other circle track builders, some of it is showing up in Moly tubing, too.... I guess the main thing I'm doing is sticking with a known supplier that I've done business with in the past and are 100% certain that all of their tubing is produced domestically. Just not a good time to be price shopping with new companies, I guess.....

Oh yeah, also on Friday saw a piece of HREW 1 1/2" .095 tube that was split on the seam with a 45* bend....I wouldn't consider using HREW on any kind of go-fast car, but I know of a lot of builders who do use it because it's so much less money then DOM or Moly...... Another lesson in you get what you pay for.

Been there done that. Just try welding some of the asian steel its worse than welding rusted stuff without cleaning it. Also nuts bolts screws, steel, SS different grades from local hardware stores all junk. Some the threads are not even exactly correct. The nut will wobble around on the bolt.
Brake line fittings the champher is too narrow or the hole size is too loose on the tubing.