Description: A low-carbon steel, having higher manganese content than certain other low-carbon steels such as 1020. Being richer in manganese, 1018 is a better steel for carburized parts, since it produces a harder and more uniform case. It also has higher mechanical properties and better machining characteristics than hot roll.

Uses: Suitable for parts requiring cold forming, such as crimping, swagging or bending. Especially suitable for carburized parts requiring soft core and high surface hardness such as gears, pinions, worms, king pins, chain pins, ratchets, dogs, etc.

Machinability: Poor machining grade. The chips are stringy and don’t break well. This causes build up on the tool which can lead to poor surface and tool failure.

Heat Treating Characteristics: It is an excellent carburizing grade.

Weldability: It is easily welded by all welding processes.

Description: This is a medium-carbon steel. The higher carbon imparts higher strength than 1018. It can be a cold-finished drawn bar or drawn, ground, and polished bar, which eliminates surface imperfections, and has greater size and straightness accuracy.

Uses: It is used where greater strength is required than using low carbon steels. Uses include shafts, machinery parts, bolts, pinions, gears, etc. In the drawn, ground, and polished condition it is especially suited to shafting requirements, as its accuracy prevents vibration at high speeds, and will fit a bearing exactly.

Machinability: Poor machining grade. The chips are stringy and don’t break well. This causes build up on the tool which can lead to poor surface and tool failure.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Through hardening (quench and tempering) grade. Used for parts requiring medium strength.

Weldability: Due to higher carbon content, this material is not readily weldable. With thin sections and flexible designs, gas or arc welding can be used without preheating. For larger welds it is recommended that one preheats. To achieve strength in the weld, use an allow filler. Stress relieving after welding is recommended.

Description: This is a medium-carbon steel. The higher carbon imparts higher strength than 1018. It can be a cold-finished drawn bar or drawn, ground, and polished bar, which eliminates surface imperfections, and has greater size and straightness accuracy.

Uses: It is used where greater strength is required than using low carbon steels. Uses include shafts, machinery parts, bolts, pinions, gears, etc. In the drawn, ground, and polished condition it is especially suited to shafting requirements, as its accuracy prevents vibration at high speeds, and will fit a bearing exactly.

Machinability: Poor machining grade. The chips are stringy and don’t break well. This causes build up on the tool which can lead to poor surface and tool failure.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Through hardening (quench and tempering) grade. Used for parts requiring medium strength.

Weldability: Due to higher carbon content, this material is not readily weldable. With thin sections and flexible designs, gas or arc welding can be used without preheating. For larger welds it is recommended that one preheats. To achieve strength in the weld, use an allow filler. Stress relieving after welding is recommended.

Description: This is a low-carbon, high-manganese steel. Because of its higher sulfur content it machines better than 1018. It is used where 1018 is used, but where better machining is required or desired.

Uses: It is used in automatic screw machines for manufacturing parts requiring considerable machining and close tolerances. It is especially suitable for carburized parts requiring a soft core and high surface hardness such as gears, pinions, worms, king pins, ratchets, etc.

Machinability: Fair machining grade. Chips break off cleanly, therefore a good surface accuracy can be obtained.

Heat Treating Characteristics: It is an excellent carburizing grade which is widely used in the industry.

Weldability: Due to high sulfur content, this material is not readily welded. Gas or arc welding can be used, but the joint must be preheated. To achieve equivalent strength in the weld, an alloy filler is recommended.

Description: This grade is a medium-carbon steel possessing higher machanical properties than other medium-carbon steels as well as free machining properties.

Uses: Because of its free machining property, this steel is usually used in automatic machines. it is used for studs, axles, pins, bolts, etc., that require strength and machining.

Machinability: Fair machining grade. Chips break off clean, and a good surface and accuracy can be obtained.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Through hardening grade (quench and temper) used for parts requiring medium strenghth.

Weldability: This grade is not readily welded due to the high carbon content and high sulphur content. Preheating is a must, and alloy filler is recommended to achieve equivalent strength. Stress relieving is also recommended.

Description: A carbon-manganese free machining steel, which has been heavy drafted and stress relieved. This steel has built-in strength, hardness, and wearability.

Uses: Suitable for parts requiring mechanical properties ordinarily obtained by heat treating an alloy to 23-30 Rockwell c. These include arbors, keyed shafts, spindles, motor shafts, axles, drive shafts, drill bushings, etc.

Machinability: Machines well in automatic screw machines and is ready for use as is without subsequent heat treating.

Heat Treating Characteristics: If heat treated, the stressproof characteristic will be destroyed. It can be, however, induction hardened in small sections to a Rockwell 55-60.

Description: This is a high strength alloy material. It is made from special hot bar, that has additives, such as selenium, to improve the machinability. It is drawn at an elevated temperature, which eliminates the secondary operations such as grinding, straightening and inspections. It can be roll threaded, knurled and plated.

Uses: It is suitable for parts requiring a Rockwell c32.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Suitable for induction hardening.

Weldability: It is not recommended for welding. Any questions regarding welding should be directed to the mill.

Description: This is cold drawn. The addition of lead gives free machining abilities to this grade of alloy steel.

Uses: Good for axles, shafts, and gears.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Both grades are good for carburizing. Both grades are heat treated the same way. This produces a hard strong surface and a tough core.

Weldability: Has good welding qualities. Be careful with the lead, not to get it so hot, that the lead will sweat out.

Description: A resulphurized, rephosphorized, low carbon free machining steel commonly referred to as screw stock. It is ideally suited to automatic screw machine operations where good machinability and finish as required.

Uses: Suitable for parts requiring considerable machining. It also responds well to roll threading, and some bending. It is not recommended for forming, ordinary bending, nor parts subject to severe stress. Parts made from it include inserts, couplings, screws, bushings, hydraulic hose fittings, etc.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Not recommended.

Weldability: Due to very high sulphur content, welding is not recommended.

Description: This grade is essentially 1215, a resulphurized, rephosporized, low carbon steel in which lead has been added.

Uses: It maximizes machinability. It is used for bushings, inserts, couplings, etc. It has good ductility and is suitable for parts involving bending, crimping, or riveting.

Heat Treating Characteristics: Not recommended.

Weldability: Due to very high sulphur and lead content, welding is not recommended.

Description: An alloy steel noted for good torsional and fatigue strength.

Machinability:  Machines good in the annealed condition.  Best in the heat treated and quenched condition.

Heat Treating:  Good for heat treating.

Weldability:  Borderline weldability due to high carbon content.  Welding with the heat treated condition will affect the mechanical properties, thus resulting in a possible post weld heat treat.