Independent engineering handbook
ASTM A513 mechanical tubing, explained
A practical, source-conscious reference for selecting, comparing, calculating, and ordering electric-resistance-welded carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing.
Planning number — not an acceptance criterion.
Pick a manufacturing route
All types →From purchase spec to finished tube
The seven checkpoints a conforming order passes through. Manufacturing & troubleshooting →
- 01Purchase specType, grade, condition, dimensions
- 02Coil & identityStrip traceable to heat
- 03FormingStrip rolled into an open tube
- 04ERW seamForged weld, no filler metal
- 05Cooling & sizingFinal OD set in sizing stands
- 06Cut & inspectLength, dimensions, NDE
- 07DocumentationCerts and release records
Tube manufacturing resources
How ASTM A513 tubing is made
From strip preparation and forming through ERW welding, sizing, inspection and release.ERW tube defect guide
Diagnose observable symptoms by first detectable stage, evidence and safe first checks.Tube inspection and first-piece approval
Build a defensible incoming, dimensional, weld-seam and first-piece inspection plan.Tube roll tooling lifecycle
Control roll selection, wear, regrinding, shims and tooling records.Tube-mill variation control
Create versioned setup, material, tooling, process, quality and learning records.Reducing scrap in ERW tube production
Separate symptoms from verified causes and prioritize recurring process loss.Tube manufacturing research
Peer-reviewed research on welded tube, kept separate from normative requirements.The short answer
ASTM A513/A513M is the ordering specification for electric-resistance-welded (ERW) carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing. If your tube will be machined, formed, press-fit, or assembled into a mechanical component — rather than designed as a load-rated structural member — A513 is usually the specification conversation to have.
The single most consequential choice inside A513 is the manufacturing type (Types 1 through 6), because the type communicates the production route, and the production route drives dimensional behavior, surface condition, weld-zone character, and cost.
What A513 covers
ASTM A513/A513M covers electric-resistance-welded carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing. It is an ordering specification: the correct type, grade, condition, dimensions, tolerances, and supplementary requirements must be communicated to the producer.
This guide interprets the decision process without reproducing controlled tables. The purchased standard, drawing, and supplier agreement govern acceptance.
Mechanical tubing differs from structural tubing (such as ASTM A500), pressure tubing, and line pipe in intent, qualification, and typical acceptance criteria. Selecting by nominal size alone — without confirming the governing specification — is one of the most common purchasing errors this publication exists to prevent.
- Mechanical applications rather than structural design qualification
- Round, square, rectangular, and special shapes may be available
- Manufacturing type materially affects finish, dimensional behavior, and cost
Start with process, not a nickname
Terms such as ERW, DOM, HREW, and CREW are useful shop shorthand, but they do not replace the ASTM type designation. Select the type by the manufacturing route and the performance your part actually needs.
A nickname on a purchase order invites the producer to interpret. A type designation, with condition and explicit dimensional requirements, makes the order self-describing and auditable.
- Use Type 1 or Type 2 pages to understand as-welded routes
- Types 3 and 4 are sink-drawn routes from hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel
- Use Type 5 for drawn-over-mandrel dimensional control
- Use Type 6 where a special smooth inside diameter is the controlling requirement
A complete order prevents assumptions
Identify the standard edition, type, grade or chemistry designation, condition, shape, dimensions, length, quantity, required tolerances, testing, certification, and end-use constraints. Resolve conflicts between the PO and drawing before release.
The specification builder on this site produces a structured ordering description you can reconcile against the official standard and your supplier's quotation before committing an order.
How to use this handbook
Start at the types overview if you are selecting a route. Use the comparison pages when weighing A513 against A500 or A519, or when translating shop terms like DOM and HREW into specification language. Use the size reference for dimensions and theoretical weights of common round sizes, the calculator for theoretical weight of any size, and the manufacturing section to understand how ERW tube mills produce, inspect, and troubleshoot this product.