Cold finished steel, or cold drawn bar, is essentially hot rolled steel that has been further processed and produced as either turned bars (removing the surface of hot rolled bars, improving dimensional control) or cold-drawn bars (pulling a bar through a die that is smaller than the incoming hot rolled size). Cold finished steel bars are frequently found in construction projects, automotive manufacturing, and any application demanding a surface free of defects or blemishes.

Cold finished steel bars are popular among steel buyers and manufacturers due to five key benefits:

1. Tighter Tolerances for Size & Roundness: A hot rolled bar will have significant variations in size with larger deviations occurring as the diameter increases. Through the added processes of cold finished bar, the final product will have a rounder appearance and improved dimensional accuracy. 

2. Straightness: This benefit is crucial to end applications where the cold finished bar will be further machined on a lathe or grinder. The straightness tolerance for cold bar is reduced to 1/16" over a five-foot increment in any 1018 grade section over 15' in length.

3. Surface finish free of scale: Often, an experienced observer can spot cold finished bar immediately thanks to the surface finish. Cold bars are free of the iron scale created through hot finishing, leaving a clean unblemished surface suitable for an array of end usages. 

4. Mechanical properties with higher yield and tensile strength: Two direct benefits, specifically of cold drawn bar, are improved yield and tensile strengths. Both properties relate to the amount of stress steel can withstand before permanent deformation (yield) or the point where steel fractures (tensile). Increases in each of these values correlate directly to cost savings by eliminating the need for heat treatments

5. Machinability leading to better tool life: Increased machinability in cold finished bar is likely the most important factor to end customer satisfaction. Operators will find that cold bar results in more efficient tooling with reduced friction or heat when compared to hot finished bar. Ultimately, faster machining equals a higher throughput, less wear on the machine itself, and additional cost savings.

DETAILS

Further Processing: 
Turned ground and polished (TG&P), annealed, stress-proof, galvanized

Applications:
Gears and shafts, oil and water well shafting, industrial buildings, and any product that requires steel with a defect-free surface

GRADES

1018
1045
1141
12L14
1215

Cold Finished Rounds

SIZE

1/8" - 12" DIA

LENGTH

10'/12' RL & 20' RL

Cold Finished Flats

SIZE

1/8" x 1/4" - 4.5" x 8"

LENGTH

10'/12' RL

Cold Finished Squares

SIZE

1/8" - 6"

LENGTH

10'/12' RL

Cold Finished Hex

SIZE

1/4" - 4"

LENGTH

10'/12' RL

PRODUCT SIZE LENGTH
Cold Finished Rounds 1/8" - 12" DIA 10'/12' RL & 20' RL
Cold Finished Flats 1/8" x 1/4" - 4.5" x 8" 10'/12' RL
Cold Finished Squares 1/8" - 6" 10'/12' RL
Cold Finished Hex 1/4" - 4" 10'/12' RL

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FAQs

Why choose cold finished bars over hot rolled?
Cold finished steel bars are further produced from hot rolled bars to give them several benefits. These perks include tighter tolerances, straightness, scale-free finish, increased yield, improved tensile strength, and improved machinability. Although cold finished bars are more expensive, saving money on tooling and machining is possible.