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Square Steel Tubing vs Round Steel Tubing
Alfalfameister - 30/4/04 at 08:34 AM

How come square steel tubing is used for the chassis? Aside from it being easier to work with, are there advantages to using square steel tubing (is it stronger, etc)?

If so, how come roll cages are normally made with round steel tubing?

Thanks.

nick205 - 30/4/04 at 09:00 AM

Square tubing is easier to work with in terms of welding into a space frame as you can cut the ends square/flat and wels together, whereas round tubing needs to be 'birdmouthed' at the end to mate to another round tube for welding - hope that makes sense!

round tubing is easier to bend than square tubing and as roll bars usually need to bend to follow the contours of a car, look good and be made with as few joints as possible that's probably why it's used.


HTH

Nick

spunky - 30/4/04 at 09:01 AM

hi there,
May I refer you to the posting 'wishbone tubing' further down this page....

That was easy....

John

Alfalfameister - 30/4/04 at 12:52 PM

Thanks!

Alan B - 30/4/04 at 01:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Square tubing is easier to work with in terms of welding into a space frame as you can cut the ends square/flat and wels together..........



True, until you have to make angled joins with tubes not in the same plane...(think of a opposite corners diagonal in a cube structure)....then square is a nightmare and round becomes easier..

The round v square arguement is a very complicated issue and all depends on exactly what you are comparing.....

mangogrooveworkshop - 30/4/04 at 02:30 PM

For BIRDMOUTHED READ FISH MOUTHED.

One must not get fins and feathers mixed up! LOL!

Mark Allanson - 30/4/04 at 04:37 PM

another reason why rollcages are round tubing is that there are no sharp corners to cut your head on! (or your birds mouth?) (second thoughts - might be an advantage!! )