SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G
            Information Statement Pursuant to Rules 13d-1 and 13d-2
                                Amendment No. 2


                              QUANEX CORPORATION
                     -------------------------------------
                               (Name of Issuer)



                    Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share
            ------------------------------------------------------
                        (Title of Class of Securities)



                                   747620102
                             ---------------------
                                (CUSIP Number)



     Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement _______.
     (A fee is not required only if the filing person:  (1) has a previous
     statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent
     of the class of securities described in item 1: and (2) has filed no
     amendment subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent
     or less of such class.)  (See Rule 13d-7.)


                         (Continued on following pages)

                               Page 1 of 5 Pages

 
- -------------------------
CUSIP NO.
 747620102
- ----------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Person
     S.S. or  I.R.S. Identification No. of  Above Person

     Goldman, Sachs & Co.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

                                         (a) _____
                                         (b) _____
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Citizenship or place of  Organization

                        New York
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of       5  Sole Voting Power
Shares
Beneficially            0
Owned By           -------------------------
Each            6  Shared Voting Power
Reporting 
Person With             374,800
                   -------------------------
                7  Sole Dispositive Power

                        0
                   -------------------------
                8   Shared Dispositive Power

                       445,600
                   -------------------------

9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                       445,600
________________________________________________________________________________

10.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares

________________________________________________________________________________
11.  Percent of Class Representing by Amount in Row (9)

                      3.3%
________________________________________________________________________________
12.  Type of Reporting Person

                       BD-PN-IA
________________________________________________________________________________

                               Page 2 of 5 Pages

 
- -------------------------
CUSIP NO.
 747620102
- ----------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Person
     S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person

     The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

                                         (a) _____
                                         (b) _____
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Citizenship or place of  Organization

                        Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of       5  Sole Voting Power
Shares
Beneficially            0
Owned By           -------------------------
Each            6  Shared Voting Power
Reporting 
Person With             374,800
                   -------------------------
                7  Sole Dispositive Power

                        0
                   -------------------------
                8   Shared Dispositive Power

                       445,600
                   -------------------------

9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                       445,600
________________________________________________________________________________

10.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares

________________________________________________________________________________
11.  Percent of Class Representing by Amount in Row (9)

                      3.3%
________________________________________________________________________________
12.  Type of Reporting Person

                       HC-PN
________________________________________________________________________________

                               Page 3 of 5 Pages

 
     Item 4.   Ownership.

           (a).  Amount beneficially owned:
                 See the responses(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover pages(s).

           (b).  Percent of class:
                 See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover pages(s).

           (c).  Number of shares as to which such person has:

              (i)  Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                    See the response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover page(s).

             (ii)  Shared power to vote or direct the vote:
                    See the response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover page(s).

            (iii)  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                    See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached cover page(s).

             (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                    See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached cover page(s).


     Item 5.   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
                    March 5, 1996

     Item 10.  Certification.

               By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
               belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
               ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
               of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
               control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
               connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
               such purpose or effect.


                               Page 4 of 5 Pages

 
                                    SIGNATURE

               After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
          belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
          true, complete and correct.


Date:  April 4, 1996
             -      

                                    THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.

                                    By:/s/ David B. Ford
                                       ---------------------------------
                                    Name:  David B. Ford
                                    Title: General Partner

                                    GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

                                    By:/s/ David B. Ford
                                       ---------------------------------
                                    Name:  David B. Ford
                                    Title: General Partner










                               Page 5 of 5 Pages