Why choose cold finished bars over hot rolled?
Cold finished steel bars are further produced from hot rolled bars to give them a tighter tolerance and better finish. Although cold finished bars are more expensive, it's possible to save money on tooling and machining.
Why choose free machining grades, such of 12L14 or 1215, over a less expensive grade, such as 1018?
Free machining grades machine much faster than 1018. While there's additional cost for materials, it can save more time and money comparatively.
Will cold finished rounds always have a chamfered end for automatic bar feeders?
The mill will provide a chamfered end on bars for an additional fee if specified at time of order. In most cases, rounds will not be chamfered. If you need a consistent supply of chamfered end rounds, ECONSTEEL would be happy to create a supply plan to meet your demands. ECONSTEEL can also chamfer ends in-house.
Are cold finished rounds a finished product?
They can be, depending on your final product. You must determine this based on your product requirements. ECONSTEEL's knowledgeable staff can assist you with everything you need to make that decision: tolerance, out of round, straightness, finish, and recommended stock removal.
What would be some reasons to not choose cold finished bars?
If you are bending material, you must be aware that the process to create cold drawn bars creates a temper on all outside edges. This temper could cause the bars to crack when bending. Cold finished bars are also oiled after production to inhibit rust. If you wish to paint or prime the material, the oil must be cleaned off.
