Collection: Round / Tube
Did you know that there are differences between pipe and tube? The main differences are in the terminology used and is commonly misunderstood and becomes confusing when trying to choose the proper material for your project Both pipe and tube have two important measurements: The Outside Diameter (O.D.) and the Wall Thickness. In the pipe and tube bending industry the most important difference between the two is the terminology used when calling out the proper “name” when referring to the size of material, and in the proper “name” of their wall thicknesses.. When you measure pipe by its O.D. (Outside Diameter), the true measurement is not what the pipe’s proper “name” will be called out as. Contrary to a tube’s proper “name”, its actual O.D., a pipe’s proper “name” is called out by what we call the Nominal Pipe Size which is NOT the pipe’s actual O.D. measurement. When tube is measured by the O.D., that measurement is its proper “name” and what the tube will be called out as. For example, when you require 1-1/2 in. tube for a project, that is its actual O.D. measurement and you will call out for “1-1/2 inch Tube” when requesting material.When tube is measured by the O.D., that measurement is its proper “name” and what the tube will be called out as. For example, when you require 1-1/2 in. tube for a project, that is its actual O.D. measurement and you will call out for “1-1/2 inch Tube” when requesting material. Tubing comes in a variety of Gages, which refers to the wall thickness of the tube. Popular gages of tube used are 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The lower the gage number the thicker the tube will be. For example 10 Gage tube measures out at a .134 in. wall thickness, whereas 20 Gage tube measures out at a .035 in. wall thickness. The gage measurement also remains consistent among the various tube sizes. For example the thickness for 10 Gage tube will consistently measure .134 inches, whether it is 1-1/2 in. O.D., 2 in. O.D., or 4-1/2 in. O.D. tube.
