POWER OF ATTORNEY




           The  undersigned hereby constitutes and  appoints
Terry  M.  Murphy and Ricardo Arredondo his true and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact   and   agents,   with   full   power   of
substitution and re-substitution, for him and in  his  name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to complete  and
sign all Form 4's and Form 5's relating to equity securities
of  Quanex  Corporation  and to  file  the  same,  with  all
exhibits thereto or documents in connection therewith,  with
the  Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York  Stock
Exchange  and Quanex Corporation, granting to said attorney-
in-fact  and  agent,  full power and  authority  to  do  and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to  be  done  in  and about the premises, as  fully  to  all
intents  and  purposes as he might or could  do  in  person,
hereby  ratifying and confirming all that said  attorney-in-
fact  and  agent, or substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



                    Executed this 23rd day of July, 2003



                         /s/ Kevin P. Delaney
                         Kevin P. Delaney
                         Vice President and General Counsel