TECHNICAL TUESDAY
What Is The Difference Between Tube and Pipe?
What is Tube?
Tube is cold rolled meaning it was rolled from coil while cold, resulting in a smooth, hard finish. It is normally finished with a 320 grit polish, although it can also be polished to even smoother finishes. Normally it looks quite nice and shiny. It comes in different shapes such as square, rectangular and cylindrical.
Tube is measured based on the OD or outside diameter and wall thickness.
Round tube can be polished internally to make it hygienic, which is commonly known as Dairy Tube in New Zealand.
What is Pipe?
Schedule pipe is non hygienic and hot rolled, which means it is heated up and then rolled through the mill into shape. It is finished with a rougher surface, which is often dull and referred to as a mill finish. Unlike tube, pipe is always round.
Sizing is based on NB or nominal bore. Nominal is a non-dimensional number that identifies the internal diameter while the wall thickness of the pipe is determined by the schedule. The Metal Company stock pipe in schedule 10 or schedule 40.
If you are unsure whether you require Tube or Pipe, the best thing to do is talk to us with the measurements – internal diameter, external diameter, wall thickness and finish. We also have charts available on our website in the technical section to help you identify which product you may require.
TUBE
- Sanitary (AS 1528.1)
- Cold Rolled
- Measured by outside diameter (OD)
- Shiny Finish
Tube is commonly used for a wide range of purposes including food & beverage process lines, irrigation, pumping, petrochemical, geothermal, marine, agriculture and machinery, automotive, architecture and heat exchange.
Sizing is based on the outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness (gauge) of the tubing.
SCHEDULE PIPE
- Non-sanitary
- Hot Rolled
- Measured by nominal bore (NB)
- Dull Mill Finish
Pipe is commonly used for a wide range of purposes including, transporting fluids, gases, drainage & services, irrigation, pumping, petrochemical, geothermal, marine, agriculture and machinery.
The term NB (Nominal Bore) is often used interchangeably with NPS (Nominal Pipe Size). ‘Nominal’ is a non-dimensional number that identifies the hole diameter.
The wall thickness of pipe is determined by the schedule. In the engineering industry, this can also be written to as ‘SCH10’ or ‘S10’ for Schedule 10S and as ‘SCH40’ or ‘S40’ for Schedule 40S. To ensure correct supply, always specify at least 2 dimensions you require: Outside diameter, inside diameter, or wall thickness.
Related Products
Learn about Stainless Steel and discover more about how we can help you with supply in your engineering business.
Watch the latest videos from The Metal Company to learn all about how our products and services can help you. We Make buying stainless steel easy.
More Videos About Tube & Pipe
February 14, 2023
November 30, 2022
November 30, 2022
November 21, 2022
November 21, 2022
What Is The Difference Between Tube and Pipe?
What is Tube?
Tube is cold rolled meaning it was rolled from coil while cold, resulting in a smooth, hard finish. It is normally finished with a 320 grit polish, although it can also be polished to even smoother finishes. Normally it looks quite nice and shiny. It comes in different shapes such as square, rectangular and cylindrical.
Tube is measured based on the OD or outside diameter and wall thickness.
Round tube can be polished internally to make it hygienic, which is commonly known as Dairy Tube in New Zealand.
What is Pipe?
Schedule pipe is non hygienic and hot rolled, which means it is heated up and then rolled through the mill into shape. It is finished with a rougher surface, which is often dull and referred to as a mill finish. Unlike tube, pipe is always round.
Sizing is based on NB or nominal bore. Nominal is a non-dimensional number that identifies the internal diameter while the wall thickness of the pipe is determined by the schedule. The Metal Company stock pipe in schedule 10 or schedule 40.
If you are unsure whether you require Tube or Pipe, the best thing to do is talk to us with the measurements – internal diameter, external diameter, wall thickness and finish. We also have charts available on our website in the technical section to help you identify which product you may require.
TUBE
- Sanitary (AS 1528.1)
- Cold Rolled
- Measured by outside diameter (OD)
- Shiny Finish
Tube is commonly used for a wide range of purposes including food & beverage process lines, irrigation, pumping, petrochemical, geothermal, marine, agriculture and machinery, automotive, architecture and heat exchange.
Sizing is based on the outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness (gauge) of the tubing.
SCHEDULE PIPE
- Non-sanitary
- Hot Rolled
- Measured by nominal bore (NB)
- Dull Mill Finish
Pipe is commonly used for a wide range of purposes including, transporting fluids, gases, drainage & services, irrigation, pumping, petrochemical, geothermal, marine, agriculture and machinery.
The term NB (Nominal Bore) is often used interchangeably with NPS (Nominal Pipe Size). ‘Nominal’ is a non-dimensional number that identifies the hole diameter.
The wall thickness of pipe is determined by the schedule. In the engineering industry, this can also be written to as ‘SCH10’ or ‘S10’ for Schedule 10S and as ‘SCH40’ or ‘S40’ for Schedule 40S. To ensure correct supply, always specify at least 2 dimensions you require: Outside diameter, inside diameter, or wall thickness.
Related Products
More Videos About Tube & Pipe
February 14, 2023
November 30, 2022
November 30, 2022
November 21, 2022
November 21, 2022
More Technical Tuesday Videos
You Ask, We Answer
Do you have questions regarding stainless steel, our products or our service? We would love to hear your suggestions for videos we could make.
