General

Square Hollow Sections (SHS) or Square Steel Tube is available in a variety of grades, finishes and materials.  We stock metric (millimetre or mm) square sizes in a comprehensive range of sizes.  Our steel stores are well stocked in Square Box Sections or SHS tubes available in dual grade or 350 grade mild steel   All of our stocked Square Box Sections (SHS) can be cut to your requirements, and you can take part lengths or cut pieces while only paying for what you need (cutting charges apply).  Our Stores will stock Square Hollow Sections in the manufactured lengths. 

Characteristics

A square tube of steel with a even, consistent finish, with a smooth rounded edge. Most Mild Steel Square Hollow Sections will be a cold formed Electro-Resistance Welded (ERW), producing enhanced strength in the finished square tube.  This welding process will result in a weld seam.  The external weld seam will be scarfed off resulting in a smooth finish on the external face, but the internal weld seam will remain protruding on the internal face of the tube. Several grades of Mild steel SHS may be available and care should be taken if a particular grade is required for your application.

Structurally, Steel Square Hollow Sections (SHS) are a material of choice for columns and posts.  This is due to the higher strengths of the steel square hollow sections are made from resulting in lower weights for the same carrying capacity compared to other profiles and the square flat faces make it easy for construction and fixing to other items with our packing.  You will not have to look far to see Square Hollow Sections (SHS) being used.  Veranda Posts, columns supporting buildings, gate posts or fence posts square bx (SHS) is found everywhere in everyday life.    Square Hollow Sections (SHS) is popular due to the smooth even finish on the outside faces, most Square Hollow Sections will have no sharp edges and require little clean up after fabrication.  

Common Applications

Our SHS steel tubes are used for a vast array of applications. Our stock holdings are selected to help you get the SHS you need to get your job done.  Typical SHS applications are:

• Structural - Columns and Frames

• Mechanical - frames and assemblies

• General Engineering

• Furniture

• Automotive

• Trailers and Truck bodies

• Marine

• Rural and Agriculture

Edcon Steel Tips

The stocked length, as well as the sizes (metric or imperial), will vary according to the material grade and size.  The changes in length may be small, however, we recommend customers do their research on the lengths that their selected product comes in.  A small change in the design lengths, can lead to greater product yield and less waste - saving you money.

Weld seam is important to any customer who is looking to "Telescope" their Square Box Section.  Telescoping of Square Hollow tube is common to allow parts to sleeve together or to be extendable with one typically smaller SHS sliding inside a larger SHS.  There is a telescoping chart available on our website

One further important consideration with all tubular construction is surface protection.  All internal surfaces of tubes are not easily accessible (under statement).  This means internal surfaces are not easily coated or painted.   If you are making or getting items made from Square Hollow Section (SHS), Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) or Circular Hollow Section (CHS) you should take care to ensure there is no way that moisture can enter the insides of your tubes, this will lead to corrosion problems especially in mild steel Hollow sections as there is no surface treatment or rust inhibitors on the inside of these tubes.  For any harsh environment or marine applications (eg. boat trailers) you will need to look at having your steel hot dip galvanised.  Due to the nature of the galvanising process, this is the only way to economically provide surface protection to the outside and inside of hollow steel sections.

Surface Preparation and Coatings

Primed Mild Steel SHS are painted with the primary purpose of protecting the steel during internal storage and handling thru the wharehousing and distribution process. The primer paint is a smooth general purpose paint applied in line by a fully automated process to the external surface (only). Typically blue in colour with a coating thickness of 10-20 microns Dry Film Thickness (DFT).

The paint features ;

• Temporary rust protection for dry storage

• Reduced surface preparation prior to fabrication and further processing

• Strippable for powder coating and hot-dip galvanzing

• Easily marked up for welding

• Weld spatter is easily wiped off

• Does not need to be ground before welding.

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