In my "Critter" Building Ventures I have had many things to ponder....Could I do this?..... How do I?.... How much is this gonna cost me??.... Well, I almost overlooked an important aspect of the whole project. Weight, probably my most crucial part of being successful in my venture. I have an idea of what the weights will be but not specific enough. Is there a site somewhere on the net that will give me the weights of say 1 foot of 3"x3"@3/16 wall boxbeam or 1 foot of 3"x3" @1/4"thickness angle iron?
All help greatly appreciated.
Most all steel supply warehouses have a book that lists all the steel products they supply along with the weights per foot. I have accumulated many over the years, but I still can't find one when I need it.
3 x 3 x 3/16 sq tubing is 6.880 lbs/ft.
3 x 3 x 1/4 angle is 4.90 lbs/ft or 98.0 lbs/ 20 ft
Can't give you a web site but my steel manual has 3x3x3/16 at 7.04 lbs /ft. and the 3x3x1/4" angle at 5.4 lbs /ft.
Edit: found a website with down loadable catalogs
https://www.metalsdepot.com/Cart3/catdl2.phtml?aident=
I'm not sure why KGNC's values are different. All steel specs are supposed to be the same.
You can look up your own numbers here: McNeilus Steel Catalog (http://www.mcneilus.com/products.html)
You have to dowload their catalog and it's 104 pages.
My catalog is maybe 20 years old but I have not heard of any changes in structural tubing. but in all these years I've never checked to see if the #'s are correct.
The handiest calculator I've found is a nifty little downloadable program that does it for you.
I can never find my printed catalogue when I need it, so this is great, it also allows you store your results so you can piece by piece, figure out how much a whole project will weigh.
Metal Suppliers Online Calculator linkey thingey....... (http://www.suppliersonline.com/research/FreeWeightCalc.asp)
I've used it for years, no spyware or problems, I'd be lost without it. ::)
Ok, more lost without it. :D
Maybe the newer ones are weighing Chinese steel. I hear it has holes in it. :D :D
I suspect it has more to do with what they melt into it. ::)
I wonder how many "import cars" it takes to screw up a batch of steel? ;) :D
I have a Central Steel catalog from 1984 and it has the same weights as my newes ones. ???
Thanks alot guys, that info is exactly what I was looking for. I am sure it will help me out alot. The way it looks with Critter is I have to add some more weight to the back end. Will get it figured out though.