FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * BAYLES MICHAEL R   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol QUANEX CORP [NX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) V Pres-Building Products Group (Last) (First) (Middle) 1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH, SUITE 1500 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2004 (Street) HOUSTON, TX 77027 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Options (Right to buy)

$ 21.3333

12/05/2003

12/04/2012

Common Stock

37,500

37,500

D

Stock Options (Right to buy)

$ 26.4

12/04/2004

12/03/2013

Common Stock

20,700

20,700

D

Stock Options (Right to buy)

$ 39.4667

12/01/2005

12/01/2014

Common Stock

21,750

21,750

D

Phantom Stock Units (1)

$ 0 (2)

12/31/2004

A

57.22

12/31/2004(3)

08/08/1988(3)

Common Stock

57.22

$ 45.71

9,280.2666

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BAYLES MICHAEL R 1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH SUITE 1500 HOUSTON, TX 77027			V Pres-Building Products Group

Signatures

Terry M. Murphy, Power of Attorney		01/04/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Units that are credited to the participant's account under the Quanex Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan as a result of Dividend Reinvestment.
(2)	Conversion price is 1-for-1.
(3)	All units credited under the Deferred Compensation Plan are 100% vested at all times; provided, however, that if a participant receives a benefit from the Deferred Compensation Plan for any reason other than death, disability or retirement within three years after a deferral is credited to a participant's account, any matching awards made by the Company with respect to such deferral will be forfeited. Distributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan are made beginning on a specified date selected bythe participant or upon a participant's death, disability, or termination of employment.

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