I really think the BD guy needs to start posting here instead of at BFSSFG. We’d never lead him astray.
[quote=“bonechilling”]From what I’ve read, most current day generic 4130 tubing is stronger and lighter than 531 (which is no longer in production), and unlike 531, almost all of today’s 4130 can be TIG’ed.
Bike nerd wax nostalgic about 531 because it was the material used in their golden-days.[/quote]
I feel pretty certain that the chemistry for 4130 hasn’t changed in the past three decades. Also, I believe that 531 is more or less just a branded clone of 4130. With that in mind, I do believe that the manufacturing process for most steels alloys has gotten more precise (or way, way more precise in the case of powdered steels) in addition to the fact that OS and double OS tubing is more common. OS tubes with thinner walls is going to be quite a bit stiffer and “stronger” with less material needed, though the tubes may dent more easily.
When I think of generic 4130, I think of straight-gauge tubes, which suck ass.
So who is sending the email to mike? gb?