Description
The Workhorse of Precision Machining
There’s a reason why 1018 cold drawn mild steel round bar shows up in so many of our customers’ orders. It’s that rare combination of predictable performance, ease of working, and cost efficiency that makes it the default choice for countless applications. Over 15 years supplying this material, we’ve seen it used everywhere – from the transmission shafts in agricultural equipment to the precision pins in medical devices.
What makes 1018 stand out? The cold drawing process isn’t just about achieving that smooth, shiny surface (though it does that well – typically Ra ≤ 1.6 μm). More importantly, it work-hardens the surface layer, creating a 10-15% increase in yield strength compared to hot-rolled stock, while maintaining the ductility needed for secondary operations. Our bars consistently test at 60,000-70,000 psi tensile and 50,000-54,000 psi yield across the full diameter range (from 6mm up to 150mm).
From Blueprint to Finished Part
We often get asked: “Can this replace 1045 for my application?” For moderate-stress components like hydraulic piston rods or CNC-machined fasteners, the answer is frequently yes – with significant cost savings. The uniform grain structure from cold drawing means less tool wear during machining, and better dimensional stability than hot-rolled alternatives. Many of our automotive clients find they can skip the straightening step entirely.
- Automotive: Drive shafts, U-joints, and suspension components benefit from the excellent case-hardening response
- Industrial: Machine spindles and linear motion shafts where precise OD tolerances are critical
- Consumer: Furniture hardware and decorative elements that need consistent polishing results
All material is ASTM A108 and SAE J403 compliant, with mill test reports available. For critical applications, we can provide additional testing like ultrasonic inspection or spectrographic analysis.
Why Work With Us
Being a Chinese manufacturer isn’t about cheap prices – it’s about vertical integration. We control the entire process from billet sourcing to final inspection, which means we can customize not just diameters and lengths (up to 6m standard, longer on request), but also deliver pre-processed bars with features like:
- Chamfered ends for easier CNC loading
- Precision ground to h8 or h9 tolerances
- Custom packaging for automated feeding
Our clients in Europe and North America particularly appreciate the consistent chemistry and documented traceability we’ve developed over decades of serving precision industries. Whether you need 100kg of 12mm bars or container loads of mixed sizes, we handle it with the same attention to detail.
When you need reliable 1018 stock that won’t surprise you in machining or performance, let’s talk about what you’re trying to accomplish. We’ve probably seen a similar challenge before.
