ERW carbon steel mechanical tubing — Type 1 (A.W.H.R.) and Type 2 (A.W.C.R.) — in round, square, and rectangular shapes. Grades 1008 through 1020, manufactured to ASTM A513-24.
A513 is what most engineers call out when they need general-purpose carbon steel tubing — automotive components, agricultural equipment, material handling, fitness equipment, conveyors, OEM frames, and anywhere a structural-grade A500 isn't required. The grade you specify (1008 through 1020) controls chemistry; the type (1 or 2) controls input strip and surface finish.
Formed from hot-rolled coil, then welded. Heavier wall capability, our broadest gage range, and lower cost. Specify Type 1 when the application doesn't require a polished finish or tighter ID/OD control.
Same ERW process, cold-rolled input strip. Smoother surface, tighter dimensional control, finer finish. Specify Type 2 when the tube will be machined, plated, painted, or visible.
Deciding between the two? Read the full A513 Type 1 vs. Type 2 comparison.
| Grade | Carbon | Manganese | Phosphorus, max | Sulfur, max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1008 | 0.10 max | 0.50 max | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| 1010 | 0.08 – 0.13 | 0.30 – 0.60 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| 1015 | 0.13 – 0.18 | 0.30 – 0.60 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| 1020 | 0.18 – 0.23 | 0.30 – 0.60 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
Per ASTM A513 Table 1. Other carbon and alloy grades (1016–1021, MTX series) available on request per Table 2.
All tolerances pulled directly from ASTM A513-24 and filtered to the size ranges Major Metals produces.
| OD Range | Type 1 (A.W.H.R.) ± | Type 2 (A.W.C.R.) ± |
|---|---|---|
| 1″ to 2″, incl. | 0.005″ | 0.005″ |
| Over 2″ to 2½″, incl. | 0.006″ | 0.006″ |
| Over 2½″ to 3″, incl. | 0.008″ | 0.008″ |
| Over 3″ to 3½″, incl. | 0.009″ | 0.009″ |
Per ASTM A513 Table 4 (Type 1) and Table 10 (Type 2). Measurements taken at least 2″ from the cut end.
| Largest Outside Dimension | Tolerance at Corners ± | Convexity / Concavity ± |
|---|---|---|
| ⅝″ to 1⅛″, incl. | 0.005″ | 0.010″ |
| Over 1⅛″ to 1½″, incl. | 0.006″ | 0.010″ |
| Over 1½″ to 2″, incl. | 0.008″ | 0.010″ |
| Over 2″ to 3″, incl. | 0.010″ | 0.010″ |
| Over 3″ to 4″, incl. | 0.020″ | 0.015″ |
| Over 4″ to 6″, incl. | 0.020″ | 0.025″ |
Per ASTM A513 Table 16. Wall thickness tolerance is ±10% of nominal (Section 10.1).
Cold-formed structural HSS. Grade B and Grade C. The bridge-and-building spec.
Galvanized mechanical tubing. Plus galvannealed, aluminized, and 55% Al-Zn options.
Cold-formed structural tubing from precoated sheet. Galvanized inside and out.
ASTM A513 is the standard specification for electric-resistance-welded (ERW) carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing. Major Metals manufactures A513 Type 1 and Type 2 tubing in round (1″–3½″ OD), square (½″–5″), and rectangular (to 4″×6″) shapes, grades 1008–1020, to ASTM A513-24.
Type 1 (A.W.H.R.) is welded from hot-rolled strip — heavier wall capability (0.065″–0.250″), the broadest gage range, and lower cost. Type 2 (A.W.C.R.) is welded from cold-rolled strip — smoother surface and tighter dimensional control, in walls 0.035″–0.134″.
Specify Type 2 when the tube will be machined, plated, painted, or visible in the finished product. If the application doesn't require a polished finish or tighter ID/OD control, Type 1 usually costs less.
Grades 1008, 1010, 1015, and 1020 per ASTM A513 Table 1. Other carbon and alloy grades (1016–1021 and the MTX series) are available on request per Table 2.
±0.005″ on rounds from 1″ to 2″ OD, stepping to ±0.009″ at 3½″ OD, per ASTM A513-24. Wall thickness tolerance is ±10% of nominal.
A513 is a mechanical tubing spec — dimensional precision for parts and frames. A500 is a structural spec with guaranteed minimum yield and tensile strengths for load-bearing construction. If your drawing calls out HSS or a minimum yield strength, you likely need A500. Read the full A500 vs A513 comparison.
A truckload — roughly 45,000 lb. Send your spec and quantity with your RFQ and we'll confirm.
Lead times depend on the current production schedule, so we confirm them at quote time. Send your spec and quantity and we'll come back with pricing and a real lead time.
Send your grade, type, size, and length — we'll get a quote back fast.
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