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Vertical load capacity?
Posted by Jim Westman on December 15, 2011 at 3:04 PM.

Hello all,

I am currently building a small steel structure using a 9-foot high 4×4-inch square tubing, mild steel, 1/4-inch thick, to vertically support another non-moving horizontal beam.

I am desperately trying to find a place/chart/website/anything that can give me a rough idea if I am relatively safe in terms of vertical load capacity of the 4×4 post (it’s plum).

The load will potentially be as much as 5,000 pounds.

Any help would be so much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.