
Chrome moly is not lighter than steel but much stronger . On race cars they use chrome moly to save weight by using thin wall tubing made of chrome moly as apposed to heaver carbon steel tubing with the same strength. Throats appear to last longer on stainless barrels than chrome moly.
What is the difference between a chromoly and a steel frame?
It (in it's 4130 form) is much stronger than com A chromoly or really any steel bike frame will have a more "compliant" ride which means basically that it will be a smoother ride because the steel frame will absorb more of the road vibration. The steel bike frame will also be stronger and more durable than an aluminum frame.
What is chromoly or chrome moly?
Chromoly or Chrome Moly is a type of low alloy steel. The popularity of the name Chromoly or Chrome Moly is due to the presence of two major alloying elements in steel; Chromium and Molybdenum. When an increase in strength is required, Chromoly steel is one of the alternatives. They are designated as AISI 41XX.
What is the difference between mild carbon and chromoly steel?
Chromoly steel is often used when more strength is required than that of mild carbon steel, though it often comes at an increase in cost. Chromoly falls under the AISI 41xx steel designations (ASTM A519).
What is the ultimate tensile strength of 41xx steel – chromoly steel?
Ultimate tensile strength of 41xx steel – chromoly steel depends on certain grade, but it is about 700 MPa. The ultimate tensile strength is the maximum on the engineering stress-strain curve.

Which is better steel or chromoly?
Chrome moly is stronger than standard stainless steel, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. Chrome moly steel is also weldable, formable and ductile, with a very similar welding technique to that of stainless steel.
Is 4130 chromoly lighter than steel?
The first and most often heard myth is that “Chromoly is lighter than Mild Steel.” This is terribly incorrect! For all measurable purposes 4130 and 1018 weigh the same at 491 lbs. per cubic foot.
Is chromoly lighter than high tensile steel?
Chromoly is essentially Hi-Tensile steel's bigger, more advanced brother. Chromoly steel is light, strong, and has some flexibility while maintaining its form. It is an alloy of steel made with chromium and molybdenum, which makes this steel lighter, more durable and "premium" than Hi-Tensile steel.
What is the weight difference between chromoly and mild steel?
For 1 5/8″ tubing, mild steel (ERW seam tube) has a typical wall thickness of . 134″ and weighs 2.134 lbs per foot. 1 5/8″ 4130 chromoly tube has a wall thickness of . 083″ and weighs 1.367 lbs per foot.
Does chromoly rust easily?
Chromoly steel is also treated before and after manufacturing to increase the natural resistance to corrosion, dramatically lessening the chance of rust. With a chromoly steel bike, you can worry less about bike upkeep and enjoy riding year after year, rain, snow, or shine.
Can I MIG weld chromoly?
4130 chrome-moly can be welded with the TIG or MIG process. Preheat is generally not needed for thinner sections (0.120-in), but for tubing larger than 0.120 a 300F-400F preheat is needed to obtain acceptable results. A common filler metal choice for welding chrome-moly is ER80S-D2 .
How can you tell chromoly from steel?
Chromoly tends to be thinner wall, and more rigid, both combine to give it a brighter and longer ringing sound. But the only way to learn this is by walking around a few dozen bike frames and listening for the subtle differences, especially as other factors will also affect the sound.
Does chromoly crack?
It is made of Chrome-moly and was heat treated from the manufacture. The Manufacture and others say that it can't be welded, if it is it will crack for sure. I know that thin walled chrome-moly tubing if I don't heat treat it before welding (as long as its around 70F or more) it will hold and not crack.
Does heating chromoly weaken it?
Chromoly literally exists because it is a supremely strong steel which is also very weldable steel. Any brazing process is less hot than welding. There is no problem heating chromoly to brazing temperature for any reasonable time. It doesn't become weaker.
Is chromoly heavy?
Chromoly (Chrome Molybdenum) Steel A workhorse of the industry, chromoly is a light, strong steel. When it is butted and shaped to take off excess weight, it can deliver a fairly light frame that will last through years of hard use. Chromoly is responsive and offers good flex while maintaining its form.
How long does a chromoly frame last?
Chromoly frames are typically overdesigned well above the endurance (fatigue) limit of 0.54 of tensile strength. This means if the welds are properly done, you can expect what we call 'infinite life'.
Can you weld chromoly to steel?
1:3610:36Chromoly Welding 101 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRather than regular mild steel unlike the other materials chromoly is the most cost effective whileMoreRather than regular mild steel unlike the other materials chromoly is the most cost effective while still maximizing the strength at the same time when welding on chromoly.
Is 4130 lighter than mild steel?
We all know that Mild Steel is heavier than 4130, because it must have a thicker wall to come close to the same strength, but there are other distinctions as well.
Are chromoly frames light?
A workhorse of the industry, chromoly is a light, strong steel. When it is butted and shaped to take off excess weight, it can deliver a fairly light frame that will last through years of hard use.
How do I know if I have mild steel or chromoly?
0:364:094130 vs Mild Steel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo mild steel in the same wall thickness would be a lot weaker tube. So for instance if I'm doing aMoreSo mild steel in the same wall thickness would be a lot weaker tube. So for instance if I'm doing a strut tube here out of inch and a half oh 65. And chromoly.
What is lighter alloy or chromoly?
Chromoly is slightly heavier than aluminum, but the frame can be thinner and has reduced stiffness, which provides a smoother ride.
How strong is 41xx steel?
Ultimate tensile strength of 41xx steel – chromoly steel depends on certain grade, but it is about 700 MPa.
What is chromoly steel?
Chromoly steel is medium-carbon ultrahigh-strength low alloy steel that gets its name from a combination of the words “chromium” and “molybdenum” – two of the major alloying elements. Chromoly steel is often used when more strength is required than that of mild carbon steel, though it often comes at an increase in cost. Chromoly falls under the AISI 41xx steel designations (ASTM A519). Examples of applications for 4130, 4140 and 4145 include structural tubing, bicycle frames, crank shafts, chain links, drill collars, gas bottles for transportation of pressurized gases, firearm parts, clutch and flywheel components, and roll cages.
What is Young's modulus?
The Young’s modulus of elasticity is the elastic modulus for tensile and compressive stress in the linear elasticity regime of a uniaxial deformation and is usually assessed by tensile tests. Up to a limiting stress, a body will be able to recover its dimensions on removal of the load. The applied stresses cause the atoms in a crystal to move from their equilibrium position. All the atoms are displaced the same amount and still maintain their relative geometry. When the stresses are removed, all the atoms return to their original positions and no permanent deformation occurs. According to the Hooke’s law, the stress is proportional to the strain (in the elastic region), and the slope is Young’s modulus. Young’s modulus is equal to the longitudinal stress divided by the strain.
What happens to steel when the yield point is passed?
Once the yield point is passed, some fraction of the deformation will be permanent and non-reversible. Some steels and other materials exhibit a behaviour termed a yield point phenomenon. Yield strengths vary from 35 MPa for a low-strength aluminum to greater than 1400 MPa for very high-strength steels.
What is the yield point of a stress-strain curve?
Yield strength or yield stress is the material property defined as the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically whereas yield point is the point where nonlinear (elastic + plastic) deformation begins. Prior to the yield point, the material will deform elastically and will return to its original shape when the applied stress is removed. Once the yield point is passed, some fraction of the deformation will be permanent and non-reversible. Some steels and other materials exhibit a behaviour termed a yield point phenomenon. Yield strengths vary from 35 MPa for a low-strength aluminum to greater than 1400 MPa for very high-strength steels.
What is the ultimate tensile strength?
The ultimate tensile strength is the maximum on the engineering stress-strain curve. This corresponds to the maximum stress that can be sustained by a structure in tension. Ultimate tensile strength is often shortened to “tensile strength” or even to “the ultimate.”.
What is the strength of a material?
In mechanics of materials, the strength of a material is its ability to withstand an applied load without failure or plastic deformation. Strength of materials basically considers the relationship between the external loads applied to a material and the resulting deformation or change in material dimensions.
What is chromoloy tubing made of?
Chromoloy tubing is made from a family of low-alloy steels that contain chromium and molybdenum (SAE 4130 or 4140), along with the iron, carbon and other elements. The chromium adds strength, hardenability and a level of corrosion resistance to mild carbon steel, though Chromoly is not as corrosion resistant as stainless steel.
How is steel tubing made?
Most steel tubing is made by cutting rolled steel into thin strips that are cold formed length-wise into a tube shape which is then welded together. Further processing creates the desired mechanical properties, dimensions, and finish. Seamless tubing is also available. Check out our Chromoly & DOM Tubing products at IMS!
What is hot finish seamless tubing used for?
It is used for rollers, sleeves and hydraulic cylinders.
What is ERW welding?
Electric resistance welding (ERW) is a type of welding process that uses the heat generated by passing a high-frequency electrical current through the metal, along with pressure to hold the parts to be welded together for a specific length of time. ERW can be used for spot welding and also for welding tube seams.
What is steel tubing?
Two of the most commonly specified types are chromoloy tubing and DOM tubing. Most steel tubing is made by cutting rolled steel into thin strips that are cold formed length-wise into a tube shape which is then welded together.
What is cold drawn steel?
Cold drawn steel (CDS) is 1018/1026 steel tubing with uniform microstructure, tight tolerances, high strength-to-weight ratio, high tensile strength, thinner tube walls, and a superior surface finish compared with HSF tubing of the same steel grade. It generally requires no additional machining and is used in race cars, truck and auto parts, and hydraulic cylinders.
What are DOM tubes used for?
This makes them ideal for use in mechanical parts, such a hydraulic cylinders and automotive components, without requiring further machining.
Is chromoly better than aluminum?
Chromoly is responsive and offers good flex while maintaining its form. Having come a long way from the oversized tubes of old, aluminum is now less expensive and very widely used on today’s bikes. It’s light, strong and stiff.
Is chromoly steel good for bikes?
Chromoly steel is also much lighter than average steel while still maintaining similar strength; this translates to sleeker frames, faster speeds, and comfortable maneuverability. These characteristics make chromoly steel the perfect material for the city and commuter bikes.
Why are steel bikes better?
The reason for this is that steel is easier and less expensive to work with than carbon fiber, and it’s also denser and stronger than aluminum. That means you can use thinner walled tubes, and thus design vertical flex into a bike.
Are titanium bike frames worth it?
It offers a smoother ride than carbon or aluminum. Titanium is the only frame material that provides a smoother ride — depending on the frame design and intent. Less expensive than titanium. Depending on the model, generally about $700 – $900 less for the frame.
Are aluminum frames good?
Though easy to dent, it’s unlikely to fail completely – making it a good choice for road and criterium racers. Good aluminium can last a lifetime – but it is open to fatigue and corrosion.
What is the best material for a bicycle frame?
Road Bike Materials Steel. The most traditional frame material, steel has been used by framebuilders for over a century. Aluminum. Aluminum was first used in frame construction in 1895. Titanium. Titanium (also called “ti”) is one of the longest lasting, strongest, and most expensive frame materials. Carbon Fiber.
Are carbon frames stronger than Aluminium?
We don’t know if these people have ties to aluminum investments or if they hold on to bygone beliefs about carbon, but what we do know is that carbon frames are stronger and lighter than aluminum, simple as that. Aluminum is great because it’s cheap, fairly light and fairly stiff.
Why do you need an aluminum frame for a road bike?
I think that the only reasons to get an aluminum frame would be if you want to get into competitive racing where every ounce matters.
How much heavier is aluminum than steel?
It is also true that as a material aluminum is 1/3 the strength of steel. That means in order to make an aluminum frame as strong as steel (all else being equal) you would have to use 3 times the amount of aluminum which would (all else being equal) make the aluminum frame about 20% heavier than steel. Luckily for aluminum it has other things going for it which, if used correctly, can sometimes make a nice lighter-than-steel frame. But you won't find this in entry level bikes, and will rarely find any weight benefit in bike frames costing under, say, $600 (frame only).
What happens if you break an aluminum frame?
If you bend or break a steel frame (including a CrMo frame) it is possible to bend it back or reweld it.
Why is a carbon bike lighter than a steel bike?
The carbon bike is lighter, mainly because of the frame material . I have not tried to get lightweight components for the bikes and both bikes are in the 9+ to 10+ kg range. The odd feel of carbon is that I tend to feel like I am riding two different bicycles at the same time. As I ride over rough road surfaces, the carbon bicycle seems to be riding over a thin and soft carpet in comparison to a steel bike which transmits the feel of the road more distinctly.
What is chromoly in a bicycle?
1. The now-commonly used moniker "chromoly" indicates a steel alloy that includes just enough chromium (the chrom part) and molybdenum (the moly part) to be allowed to be named as such.
What is the advantage of aluminum over steel?
The one big advantage that aluminum has over steel of course is the weight. Aluminu
What is the best fork for a steel bike?
A good way to get the best of both worlds can be to use a carbon fiber fork on either a steel or aluminum frame, it saves a little weight and the carbon fiber is good at absorbing the road vibrations that get transferred through your handlebars to your wrists.
