A513 Cold Roll Carbon Steel Round Tubing 5/8 in OD - Strong, Precise

In this review of the A513 Cold Roll Carbon Steel Round Tubing, the bottom line is simple: this is a solid choice for builders and fabricators who need a straight, strong length of drawn-over-mandrel tubing that meets ASTM-A513. The tubing's greatest selling point is its rigidity and material consistency, making it well suited for pins, shafts, spindles and light structural work where strength matters more than ease of machining. For projects that demand predictable dimensions and durable 1018 carbon steel, this tube delivers reliable performance.

Key Features

• Material: 1018 carbon steel offers good strength and rigidity for load-bearing shafts and pins.
• Standard: Meets ASTM-A513, which ensures the tubing is produced to consistent commercial tubing specifications.
• Finish: Cold roll drawn over mandrel construction yields a straight, uniform wall that reduces runout in rotating parts.
• Dimensions: 5/8 in outside diameter with a 0.39 in inside diameter and 0.12 in wall provides predictable fit for bores and bearings.
• Length: A 48 in length is convenient for cutting multiple parts or long single-piece applications without seams.

Who It's For

This tubing is aimed at hobby machinists, restoration shops, and light industrial fabricators who need a durable, consistent steel tube for pins, rods, shafts, spindles and sprockets. Its strength and straightness make it useful for automotive repair tasks, small machinery builds, and custom fittings where rigidity matters.

Those who need maximum machinability, weldability, or a stainless option should look elsewhere; A513 1018 carbon steel trades slightly lower machinability and weldability for higher strength and rigidity, so it is less convenient when heavy welding or fine finishing is the main requirement.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong and rigid 1018 carbon steel construction that performs well under load.
• Consistent, cold-rolled drawn over mandrel finish produces straight tubing with uniform wall thickness.
• Meets ASTM-A513, providing a reliable manufacturing standard for repeatable results.
• Good value for applications where material strength is the priority.

Cons

• Machinability and weldability are slightly lower than softer steels, which can slow fabrication in some shops.
• Some customers report the inner diameter can be slightly smaller than expected, which may affect tight-fit applications.

Specifications

Material	1018 carbon steel (A513)
Construction	Cold roll, drawn over mandrel
Outside Diameter	5/8 in
Inside Diameter	0.39 in
Wall Thickness	0.12 in
Length	48 in

Our Verdict

The A513 Cold Roll Carbon Steel Round Tubing is a practical, cost-effective choice for anyone needing a sturdy, straight length of 1018 tubing for shafts, pins and light structural work. It offers good material quality and ASTM-A513 compliance, delivering value where strength and dimensional consistency matter more than easy weldability or ultra-fine machining.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tubing welded or seamless?
It is cold roll drawn over mandrel to produce a consistent tube that meets ASTM-A513; the process yields a uniform wall suited for rotating parts.

Will the inner diameter accept standard bearings?
The ID is 0.39 in; most bearings designed for a slightly larger bore will fit, but a few customers note the inner diameter can measure slightly small, so verify before final installation.

Can this steel be welded easily?
1018 carbon steel welds acceptably but has slightly lower weldability than lower carbon steels, so welding may require preheat or careful technique for best results.