We offer strip with three edge conditions: the No. 1 Round Edge, the No. 3 Slit Edge and the No. 5 Deburred (Safety) Edge. On drawings and purchase orders, you’ll also see them written as #1, #3 and #5.
No. 1 EdgeRound EdgeA round or square edge, as specified, produced by machining or rolling. We offer the round edge only.
Up to 1.500″ wide (38.1 mm)
No. 3 EdgeSlit EdgeAn edge produced by slitting. It is our most common edge and has only a minimal slit burr.
No. 5 EdgeDeburred / SafetyAn approximately square edge produced by rolling or filing after slitting. This process removes the slitting burr.
Cross-sections are magnified end views of the strip edge. T is the strip thickness.
No. 3 Slit Edge
The No. 3 Slit Edge is our most common edge. ASTM A480 defines a No. 3 Edge as an edge produced by slitting. As slitting knives cut wide coil into narrow strip, they leave a burr, a small raised lip of metal along one corner of the cut edge. The burr is a normal byproduct of slitting, and our No. 3 edges are slit with a minimal slit burr.
No. 5 Deburred / Safety Edge
A No. 5 Edge is an approximately square edge produced by rolling or filing after slitting. It starts as a No. 3 slit edge; rolling or filing then removes the burr, leaving a square edge without the sharp lip. Because the burr is gone, a No. 5 is often called a Safety Edge.
No. 1 Round Edge
A No. 1 Edge is a round or square edge, as specified, produced by machining or rolling. We offer the No. 1 Edge round only, with the edge formed to a rounded contour across the strip thickness.
We offer a No. 1 Round Edge in widths up to 1.500″ (38.1 mm).
At a glance
| Edge | Also called | Definition | Width limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 (#1) | Round Edge | A round or square edge, as specified, produced by machining or rolling (we offer round only) | Up to 1.500″ (38.1 mm) |
| No. 3 (#3) | Slit Edge | An edge produced by slitting (our most common edge, minimal slit burr) | — |
| No. 5 (#5) | Deburred / Safety Edge | An approximately square edge produced by rolling or filing after slitting | — |
You can watch our edge conditioning process in the video on our Services page.
Specifying an edge on your order
Your drawing or specification sets the edge requirement. If it calls for an edge other than a No. 3 slit edge, include the edge number with your request for quote, along with the thickness and width, so we can confirm the edge is available for your size.
This article is educational information only. Edge definitions are based on ASTM A480. Edge availability depends on alloy, temper, thickness and width, and is confirmed with each quote.