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1/2" OD Stainless Steel Pipe
- Bright Annealed Polished Sanitary Tubing ASTM A270
- Available in 316L Stainless Steel
- Stamped with Heat Lot Number
- Manufactured in accordance with 3A Standards for sanitary line process requirements
Are you fed up with materials that bend or become rusty? Our half-inch round tubing made of stainless steel will help you upgrade your projects. Whether for fixing a boat’s railing, building new furniture, or renovating a yard, this tubing is both easy to use and very durable. The stainless steel used is of marine quality making it resistant to saltwater and humidity.
Product Overview
This 1/2 inch diameter tubing is the smallest tubing in the Eagle stainless steel tubing line. It is made to comply with the ASTM A270 standards for sanitary tubing and has a bright polished finish. The 1/2 inch diameter is commonly used in applications that require precision. Examples are: bike racks, small furniture frames, railings for boats, and custom fittings. The 0.065 inch wall thickness (i.e. 16 gauge tubing) offers an ideal balance of strength and workability; it is strong enough to hold its shape even under high loads while at the same time allowing cutting and bending. There is a heat lot number on the tubing that confirms the originality of the material. The tubing is available in the standard lengths of from 1 foot to 6 feet or in large coils for bigger applications.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 1/2" OD (Other sizes available: 3/4" to 6")
- Material: 304 or 316L Stainless Steel
- Standard: ASTM A270 (Sanitary Tubing)
- Surface Finish: Bright Annealed, Polished or Brushed
- Wall Thickness: 0.065" (16 Gauge)
- Certification: 3A Sanitary Standards Compliant
- Traceability: Stamped with Heat Lot Number
- Available Lengths: Pre-cut 1 ft to 6 ft; Bulk Coils
Key Advantages of Our 1/2" Stainless Steel Tubing
Real Stories from Real Users
"Used this tubing to rebuild my sailboat's lifeline stanchions. Two years in saltwater – zero rust!" – Jake M., Florida Sailor
"Cut it with a hacksaw for my custom BBQ smoker rack. Still straight after 50+ cooks!" – Lisa R., Texas DIYer
Dimensions of ASTM A270
| Tube OD | Nominal Wall Thickness (inches) | Gage Number | Wt. Pounds per Ft. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½" | 0.065 | 16 | 0.31 | |||||||
| ¾" | 0.065 | 16 | 0.49 | |||||||
| 1" | 0.065 | 16 | 0.67 | |||||||
| 1½" | 0.065 | 16 | 1.02 | |||||||
| 2" | 0.065 | 16 | 1.36 | |||||||
| 2½" | 0.065 | 16 | 1.71 | |||||||
| 3" | 0.065 | 16 | 2.06 | |||||||
| 4" | 0.083 | 14 | 3.45 | |||||||
| 6" | 0.109 | 12 | 6.92 | |||||||
Operating Pressure
304 Stainless Steel Tube (ASTM A270 Tubing)
| Tube OD Size | Nominal Wall Thickness (inches) | Pressure (PSI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| working | yield | burst | ||
| ½" | 0.065 | 4,870 | 7,800 | 19,500 |
| ¾" | 0.065 | 3,250 | 5,200 | 13,000 |
| 1" | 0.065 | 2,440 | 3,900 | 9,800 |
| 1½" | 0.065 | 1,630 | 2,600 | 6,500 |
| 2" | 0.065 | 1,220 | 2,000 | 4,900 |
| 2½" | 0.065 | 980 | 1,600 | 3,900 |
| 3" | 0.065 | 810 | 1,300 | 3,300 |
| 4" | 0.083 | 780 | 1,200 | 3,100 |
| 6" | 0.109 | 680 | 1,090 | 2,720 |
Calculated using Barlow's Formula: material 304, yield strength 30,000 PSI, tensile strength 75,000 PSI. Working Pressure = ¼ of Burst Pressure, from -20°F to 100°F.
316L Stainless Steel Tube (ASTM A270 Tubing)
| Tube OD Size | Nominal Wall Thickness (inches) | Pressure (PSI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| working | yield | burst | ||
| ½" | 0.065 | 3,250 | 6,500 | 19,500 |
| ¾" | 0.065 | 2,167 | 4,330 | 13,000 |
| 1" | 0.065 | 2,280 | 3,300 | 9,100 |
| 1½" | 0.065 | 1,520 | 2,200 | 6,100 |
| 2" | 0.065 | 1,140 | 1,600 | 4,600 |
| 2½" | 0.065 | 910 | 1,300 | 3,600 |
| 3" | 0.065 | 760 | 1,100 | 3,000 |
| 4" | 0.083 | 730 | 1,000 | 2,900 |
| 6" | 0.109 | 635 | 900 | 2,540 |
Calculated using Barlow's Formula: material 316L, yield strength 25,000 PSI, tensile strength 70,000 PSI. Working Pressure = ¼ of Burst Pressure, from -20°F to 100°F.
Note: Stainless Steel Pipe size and Tube OD size materials are not interchangeable.
Dimensional Tolerances
| Size OD | Tolerances, OD | Wall Thickness | Tolerances on Wall Thickness | Tolerances on Length | Weight Kg/M | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" (12.7) | +/-0.005" (0.13) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 0.4571 | ||||||
| 3/4" (19.1) | +/-0.005" (0.13) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 0.7218 | ||||||
| 1" (25.4) | +/-0.005" (0.13) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 0.9824 | ||||||
| 1-1/4" (31.8) | +/-0.008" (0.20) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 1.2412 | ||||||
| 1-1/2" (38.1) | +/-0.008" (0.20) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 1.5078 | ||||||
| 2" (50.8) | +/-0.008" (0.20) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 2.0331 | ||||||
| 2-1/2" (63.5) | +/-0.010" (0.25) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 2.5585 | ||||||
| 3" (76.2) | +/-0.010" (0.25) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 3.0797 | ||||||
| 4" (101.6) | +/-0.015" (0.38) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 5.2628 | ||||||
| 6" (152.4) | +/-0.030" (0.76) | 0.083" (2.11) | +/-10.0% | +3/16" (4.8) | 7.9116 | ||||||
| 6" (152.4) | +/-0.030" (0.76) | 0.109" (2.77) | +/-10.0% | +3/16" (4.8) | 10.3909 | ||||||
| 8" (203.2) | +0.061" (1.55) / -0.031" (0.79) | 0.109" (2.77) | +/-10.0% | +3/16" (4.8) | 13.9166 | ||||||
Uniform wall thickness for 1/2" through 3" size measures 0.065" (16ga). In 4" size, wall thickness measures 0.083" (14ga). 6" and 8" sizes measure 0.109" (12ga).
Chemical Composition
ASTM A270 tubing in sanitary steel grades 304 and 316L is formulated for food and beverage processing environments where equipment comes into contact with acidic or alkaline solutions, salts, and cleaning agents.
| Elements | 304 (wt%) | 304L (wt%) | 316L (wt%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (C) | Carbon, Max. | 0.080 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| (Mn) | Manganese, Max. | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| (P) | Phosphorus, Max. | 0.040 | 0.040 | 0.040 |
| (S) | Sulfur, Max. | 0.030 | 0.030 | 0.030 |
| (Si) | Silicon, Max. | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| (Ni) | Nickel | 8.0–11.0 | 8.0–13.0 | 10.0–15.0 |
| (Cr) | Chromium | 18.0–20.0 | 18.0–20.0 | 16.0–18.0 |
| (Mo) | Molybdenum | N/A | N/A | 2.0–3.0 |
| (Fe) | Iron | Bal. | Bal. | Bal. |
| (Cu) | Copper | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| (N) | Nitrogen | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Applications & Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel for this tubing?
304 stainless steel Provides outstanding resistance against corrosion in various climate conditions including rain, moisture, and low-quality oil. Therefore, it is used for constructing furniture, doing DIY, and automotive work. 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, which brings the properties of resistance to pitting caused by saltwater, chlorine, and coastal air. If your project will be done few miles from the ocean, or on the deck of the boat or by the swimming pool, choose this steel. The difference in price of steel is due to the fact that 316 has a higher content of both molybdenum and nickel steel alloys.
Can I bend this 1/2-inch tubing without kinking it?
Yes. A manual tube bender with an appropriately sized die is needed to bend tubing of 1/2-inch outside diameter and 0.065-inch wall thickness. The die must have a size exactly matching the diameter of the tube — wrong die size will create deformities in the tube. It is important to provide constant and steady pressure during the bending process. It is best to fill the tubing with dry sand and close both ends, if one needs to make sharp bends because this will prevent tube deformation. Do not try to bend stainless steel tube by hand, as the material will become stronger while being bent without proper support, which leads to certain failure.
What is the best way to cut this tubing for a clean, square end?
An occasional cut can be accomplished efficiently with a hacksaw having a blade with either 24 or 32 teeth per inch. If done regularly, a chop saw with a stainless steel abrasive wheel is the best option because it cuts quicker and makes a clean square cut. After cutting, removing burrs along the inner edges using a half-round file or deburring tool is required. A proper cut ensures an easy welding process as an improper cut creates a gap between the tubing and connection that might make welding more difficult.
Is this tubing safe for drinking water or food contact?
Certainly, this tubing is produced following the standards of ASTM A270 for sanitary application and conforms as per the 3A standards for food and beverage usage. The excellent annealed finish is non-poisonous, non-absorbing, and doesn’t let out any, chemicals. All tubing has a heat lot number for complete traceability. If the tubing is to be used in potable water and food production use, please specify grade 316L for enhanced resistance against corrosive chlorinated water and cleaning agents.
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