Colour codes on bar steel stock

[David lawrence 3Participant @davidlawrence3]

[David lawrence 3Participant @davidlawrence3]

Hi All, does anybody know the colour codes that are on some grades of bar steel stock. I have some 5/8" with green paint on one end and some I have seen with red. Are these EN8 or EN1 etc. I do put a red felt pen mark on my own brass metric stock just to save time when looking for something, no point re measuring loads of round metric stock when looking for imperial. What way does everybody mark the re stock. Some of my stock I bought 15 years ago so I cant remember what it was.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Try this, not all people use the same colours

[CHRIS WOODS 1Participant @chriswoods1]

Different suppliers use their own colour codes although there are some similarities. This caused difficulties in the two mechanical engineering firms where I was Quality Manager. Ultimately the only solution to ensuring the correct material would be selected for a particular job was to overpaint our own in-house colours onto the bar (and also write the material type on them, e.g. EN8, EN16T, etc.). Our colour charts were displayed in various places and any obtained from the various suppliers were held for reference but not issued.

[Bernard WrightParticipant @bernardwright25932]

As soon as I purchase identified metals, I always paint the ends (both), in my own colour coding, with my chart near the lathe, metals I cannot remember composition of, are used for rough or sacrificial jobs.

Bernard

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Try a spark test, there is no single standard for paint.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 05/07/2016 16:51:32

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

My second order of 1" mild steel rod from my local metal emporium was colour coded differently from the first. When I asked why I was told "it's not the type of steel mate, it's who we got it from".

Dave

[Roger HeadParticipant @rogerhead16992]

Posted by JasonB on 05/07/2016 10:59:50:

Try this, not all people use the same colours

Or a million others, which can all be subtly different. For example, in Jason's link the all-white (in the carbon steels section) denotes EN16T., while in the Bohler Uddeholm chart

http://www.buau.com.au/media/Signet_Colours_20.6.2014.xls

all white is for plain 1030. Free machining in the ParkerSteel codes is a bright green, in the BU chart it is Rose Pink, and so it goes on.

The answer that Dave received is probably half-right – it is (identifies) the type of steel, but it was supplied by someone who uses a different colour code.

So if I want to fix up the chook fence, I will use something that I can get at the local 'metal' supplier, but if I need something that I want to have confidence in then I go to the BU Steel Store. It's only ~30km away, they will supply small quantities, and cut to size.

My $0.02 worth.

Roger

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

I have used Parker steel for some years after my local supplier closed,delivery is expensive, last delivery a few hundred pounds worth was a right cockup ,had a bar painted white supplied instead of leaded ms (magenta) and of course was it en 16 or stainless as the same colours are used. A good many years ago McCreadys painted their EN 3 white ,can be confusing. For convenient storage I usually cut the 10 ft bars in half so I mark the end of each bar with number/letter stamps,

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Roger Head on 06/07/2016 02:51:20:

Posted by JasonB on 05/07/2016 10:59:50:

Try this, not all people use the same colours

…

The answer that Dave received is probably half-right – it is (identifies) the type of steel, but it was supplied by someone who uses a different colour code.

…

Roger

Ah ha, now that makes sense! In other words, don't trust a colour code unless you know which one it is. No wonder people are sometimes sold the wrong thing.

Thanks,

Dave

[Author]

Posts