Aluminum Oval Tube 6061 T6 for Furniture Frames, Handrails, Railings and Equipment Handles

Oval aluminum tube is a hollow extruded profile with a flattened, rounded section that sits between a round tube and a flat bar. Because the shape has no sharp corners, it is comfortable to grip and pleasant to look at, which is why it is widely used for handrails, push handles, chair frames and the trim rails on trolleys and display stands. The tube is produced in 6061 alloy and supplied in the T6 temper. 6061 contains magnesium and silicon and responds to solution heat treatment followed by artificial aging; the T6 condition gives a firm, stable section that holds its shape while it is cut, drilled and assembled, and that keeps the oval cross section from flattening when it is clamped. Oval section is often chosen where the part will be touched, because a flat oval face gives more surface area against the hand than a round tube of similar weight. The same shape also hides the joint line in a frame, so a fabricated rail looks continuous once the welds have been dressed and the part has been finished. Fabrication is straightforward in the 6xxx family. The tube can be cut to length, mitred, drilled, tapped and bent, and it welds well with common aluminum welding processes. Bending needs a former matched to the oval section so that the wall does not collapse on the inside of the bend, and the minimum radius depends on the wall thickness of the tube. Typical applications include furniture and seating frames, handrails and guard rails, exercise equipment, luggage trolleys, display and exhibition structures, window and door trim, and the handles on carts and cabinets. The surface can be left in mill finish, anodized or powder coated, depending on the look and the environment. Please send the oval dimensions, the wall thickness, the alloy and temper, the required length, the finish and the quantity, together with a drawing or a sample if a bend radius has to be matched. The sales team will confirm whether the section can be produced from an existing die or whether a new die has to be prepared for the size. Wall thickness is chosen with the load and the joining method in mind. A thicker wall takes a thread more securely and resists denting when the rail is knocked, while a thinner wall keeps the weight down and makes the tube easier to bend to a tight radius without a mandrel. Lengths are supplied cut to the size agreed for the order, and the cut ends are left square unless a different end treatment is requested. If the oval tube has to match an existing frame, please give the outside dimensions and the wall thickness so that the nearest available section can be identified.