Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
lengths at about £20 a throw.

Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

Cheers

Paul.

wrote:
Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

Isn't an RSJ or UB cheaper?

On 24 Nov 2005 04:29:25 -0800, wrote:

| Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
| the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
| up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.
|
| Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.
|
| I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
| seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
| lengths at about £20 a throw.
|
| Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
| suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

Try the local scrap yards.
I got a bit of girder quite cheaply, the only problem was that it had holes
in it.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk
Sick and tired of Junk Snail Mail?
Register with http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/
IME it works :-)

wrote in message
oups.com...
Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

snip

Sounds like you're after "box section" then.

Try some other metal merchants, but you may need to make sure they'll
deliver to you as that will be very heavy in 5mm wall.

Have a look at http://www.shop4steel.co.uk/ also.

Alan.

wrote:
Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
lengths at about £20 a throw.

Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

Cheers

Paul.

Go to an aerial suppliers these sell all manner of Steel&Aluminium poles.
--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

wrote in message
oups.com...

snipped

I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
lengths at about £20 a throw.

Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

Cheers

Paul.

================
They're probably 'Catnic' lintels. Ask at you local builders' merchants for
sizes, specifications and prices.

Cic.

In article .com
, writes
Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
lengths at about £20 a throw.

Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

You find that for a given profile shape that price goes up with weight so say
3mm will be 60% of the price of 5mm. If you can make do with a lighter
section then go for it. Bet the B&Q stuff is a mm or less.

Maybe look at a trial install of superbeam ? to work out what you really
need for the weight you will be looking to supporting.

As others have said, different profiles may be lighter (cheaper) for a given
strength. I think the profile that looks like half an 'I' beam (bloody san serif
fonts) (can't remember the proper name) is strong but easy to bolt to 'stuff'.
What are you using for vertical support?
--
fred
Plusnet - I hope you like vanilla

In article , The3rd Earl
Of Derby wrote:
Go to an aerial suppliers these sell all manner of Steel&Aluminium poles.

Not for going across a garage to hang heavy loads off!

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
Free SEDBUK boiler database browser http://www.sda.co.uk/qsedbuk.htm
[Latest version QSEDBUK 1.10 released 4 April 2005]

Tony Bryer wrote:
In article , The3rd
Earl Of Derby wrote:
Go to an aerial suppliers these sell all manner of Steel&Aluminium
poles.

Not for going across a garage to hang heavy loads off!

Erm! the steel poles are equivalent to 'scaffolding', what sort of weight
are we talking here as it really hasn't been mentioned, just "heavy load"?
--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

In article , Fred wrote:
You find that for a given profile shape that price goes up with weight
so say 3mm will be 60% of the price of 5mm. If you can make do with a
lighter section then go for it. Bet the B&Q stuff is a mm or less.

The fundamental question is what load is this beam to take. Box sections
are not particularly efficient when compared with I sections since a lot
of the steel is not being used to advantage.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
Free SEDBUK boiler database browser http://www.sda.co.uk/qsedbuk.htm
[Latest version QSEDBUK 1.10 released 4 April 2005]

In article , The3rd Earl
Of Derby wrote:
Erm! the steel poles are equivalent to 'scaffolding', what sort of
weight are we talking here as it really hasn't been mentioned, just
"heavy load"?

I was guessing at lifting an engine out of a car ... At a quick check a
3m scaffold pole will take about 100kg as a centre static point load.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
Free SEDBUK boiler database browser http://www.sda.co.uk/qsedbuk.htm
[Latest version QSEDBUK 1.10 released 4 April 2005]

Tony Bryer wrote:
In article , The3rd
Earl Of Derby wrote:
Erm! the steel poles are equivalent to 'scaffolding', what sort of
weight are we talking here as it really hasn't been mentioned, just
"heavy load"?

I was guessing at lifting an engine out of a car ... At a quick check
a 3m scaffold pole will take about 100kg as a centre static point
load.

This to me suggest somethiing like...doors,wood,boxes of heavy stuff.

"support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters".
--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

If you are near Rochdale, I have a maybe 10ft ( I'm at work ) scaffold pole
that will prob do for one of your supports, foc but you have to take it
away. If interested I'll measure it at the weekend.

Pete

Pete Cross wrote:
If you are near Rochdale, I have a maybe 10ft ( I'm at work ) scaffold pole
that will prob do for one of your supports, foc but you have to take it
away. If interested I'll measure it at the weekend.

Thanks for the thought and offer, but i'm in Hampshire.

Wasn't really looking at scaffold poles, due to the 'roundness' of
them, whereas square or rectangular bar would sit on the wall quite
happily.

Cheers

Paul.

fred wrote:

, writes
Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
lengths at about £20 a throw.

Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

You find that for a given profile shape that price goes up with weight sosay
3mm will be 60% of the price of 5mm. If you can make do with a lighter
section then go for it. Bet the B&Q stuff is a mm or less.

Yes, the B&Q stuff is thinner than 5mm, but looks quite substantial
nonetheless.

It was in the lintel section.

Don't really want to go less than 4mm wall thickness, to avoid bowing
in the centre of the beam but will go and have a look for a small I
section RSJ too.

Cheers

Paul.

In message .com,
writes
Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

I've spotted some pressed steel beams in B&Q that are about 3" X 3",
seam welded and galvanised that would do, but these only come in ~ 4'
lengths at about £20 a throw.

Anyone know what these are called so I can have a look around, or
suggest any strong alternatives and/or rough costs ?

Cheers

Paul.


Hi Paul,

if you're going to be looking on the web for suitable materials etc, it
is easier if you know the terminology.

I can't claim to be an expert, I was sort of forced into understanding
it by engineers drawings for loading calculations for our impending loft
conversion.

For you and I, "Box Section" = SHS (Steel Hollow Section)
For you and I, "C Section" = PFC (Parallel Flange Channel)

etc etc

UB also has its own sectional definition (AIUI it could be close to "I"
section).

What we all used to call "box section", "I section", "C section" etc all
now have their own posh names and acronyms.

If you Google for some of the acronyms you should find some suppliers
(as I had to with these drawings for this loft). You should at least be
able to find some price indications and know what you could be getting
for your money, even it is OTT for your needs.

Hth

P.S. We should now both expect a flood of replies on here telling us my
acronyms are wrong :-)
Someone

On 24 Nov 2005 15:48:10 -0800, wrote:


| Don't really want to go less than 4mm wall thickness, to avoid bowing
| in the centre of the beam but will go and have a look for a small I
| section RSJ too.

All beams bow under load.
you meant "to avoid *too much* bowing"
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk
Sick and tired of Junk Snail Mail?
Register with http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/
IME it works :-)

In article . com,
wrote:
Don't really want to go less than 4mm wall thickness, to avoid bowing
in the centre of the beam but will go and have a look for a small I
section RSJ too.

I'd go for a secondhand RSJ or UB. The supplier will cut to length. Will
be a bit OT but probably cheaper than a new box section.

--
*Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Yup - SHS = Square hollow section
RHS = Rectangluar hollow section etc...

wrote in message
ups.com...

fred wrote:

, writes
snipped


Yes, the B&Q stuff is thinner than 5mm, but looks quite substantial
nonetheless.

It was in the lintel section.
===================
Then it was probably a lintel, as I said in my earlier reply. Do a
'google' for 'Catnic lintels' and see if they're what you're looking for.

Cic.

Phil wrote:
RHS = Rectangluar hollow section etc...

Gawd, why do I see a load of google references to "Wisley" in my near
future ;-)

P.

wrote:
Phil wrote:
RHS = Rectangluar hollow section etc...

Gawd, why do I see a load of google references to "Wisley" in my near
future ;-)

P.

Any off-cuts of SHS or RHS could be sunk into the ground and used to
contain the roots of e.g. a clump of mint.

MBQ

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember saying
something like:

Ok, need 2 pieces of steel tube 4" X 2" X 10' These are to go across
the top of the garage walls to support some heavy loads I want to put
up in the rafters, and I don't really want to use wood.

Steel stockholders have quoted £135.75 + VAT for 5mm wall thickness.

2"x2" box section welded together. Suck it and see, but 5mm wall
thickness might be harder to find.

What loads?
--

Dave