1018 Hot Rolled & Cold Drawn Steel Bar Supplier
AISI 1018 is a low-carbon steel with approximately 0.18% carbon content, making it one of the most widely used grades for machined components. Its combination of machinability, weldability, and formability makes it a practical choice for manufacturers who need consistent material performance without overcomplicating fabrication. Millennium Metals stocks 1018 steel bar in hot-rolled and cold-drawn forms, available in various profiles to match your specific application.
1018 Hot-Rolled Steel Bar
As a 1018 hot-rolled steel bar supplier, Millennium Metals carries this grade in round and square bar configurations with diameters up to 10.5 inches round and potentially larger sizes, depending on availability. Hot-rolled 1018 offers increased ductility and toughness compared to unprocessed steel, and its lower cost per unit makes it a practical option for high-volume production runs. This form of 1018 is commonly selected for parts that will undergo additional machining, forging, or heat treatment before reaching their final application.
1018 Cold-Drawn Steel Bar
For applications requiring tighter tolerances and improved surface finish, Millennium Metals serves as a 1018 cold-drawn steel bar supplier with inventory staged between Chicago and Michigan for immediate shipment. Cold-drawn 1018 bar is produced by pulling hot-rolled bar through a smaller die, then rotary straightening and cutting to length. This process yields a straighter bar with better dimensional accuracy and higher tensile strength than its hot-rolled counterpart. Equipment manufacturers and CNC shops frequently specify cold-drawn 1018 for precision-machined components such as shafts, pins, gears, and spindles.
Applications for 1018 Steel Bar
The 1018 grade performs well across a broad set of manufacturing environments. Its low carbon content allows it to be welded using standard methods without significant risk of cracking, while its machinability rating keeps tool wear manageable and cycle times efficient. Manufacturers in the automotive, heavy truck, hydraulic fittings, and construction industries regularly source 1018 bar for parts that require moderate strength and reliable fabrication characteristics. This grade is also a preferred candidate for case hardening (carburizing), which creates a wear-resistant surface while preserving a tough, ductile core.
Why Source 1018 Steel Bar from Millennium Metals
Millennium Metals has been selling steel bar products for over 20 years, building strong relationships with mills across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. We offer competitive pricing with a favorable minimum order quantity, and our stocking programs allow customers to lock in pricing with scheduled releases over six months to a year. With storage locations in the Midwest, we can provide lead times as short as one day for domestic shipments, along with containerized shipping to foreign destinations. Request a quote to discuss your 1018 steel bar requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hot-rolled and cold-drawn 1018 steel bar?
Hot-rolled 1018 bar is processed at high temperatures, which makes it more ductile and less expensive. Cold-drawn 1018 bar undergoes an additional drawing process at room temperature, resulting in tighter dimensional tolerances, a smoother surface finish, and increased tensile strength. The right choice depends on your application's requirements for surface quality and dimensional precision.
Can 1018 steel be hardened?
1018 steel cannot be significantly through-hardened due to its low carbon content. However, it responds well to case hardening through carburizing, which diffuses carbon into the surface layer to create a hard exterior while the core stays tough and ductile. This makes it a strong candidate for wear-prone components like gears, pins, and ratchets.
What shapes and sizes of 1018 steel bar does Millennium Metals carry?
We stock 1018 in cold-drawn round, square, hexagon, and flat bar, as well as hot-rolled round and square bar. Contact our team for availability on specific dimensions or nonstandard sizes.
additional steel products
Steel Road Plates
Millennium Metals has been selling and supplying road plates to our customers for…
Learn More
Bar
Millennium Metals has an ample array of primarily cold drawn bar in storage locations…
Learn More
Wire Rod
Millennium has a wide variety of grades and sizes of hot-rolled wire rod coils available…
Learn More