Looking for steel products and not exactly sure what type you need? Turn to the experts at Metal Supermarkets to guide you in the right direction.
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When deciding between Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled steel, all you need to know is what the material will be used for, how it will be used, and the size requirements. The Metal Supermarkets team will use these details to determine which type of steel will be best for your project.
Dwayne Swenson, owner of Metal Supermarkets Seattle (Kent) and Tacoma in Washington and Portland, Oregon, talks about the popularity of Hot Rolled and Cold Finished steel products, “Hot Rolled steel is the most popular type of steel we offer. Construction grade A36 Hot Rolled (mild steel) bar is the bread-and-butter steel product for a lot of industries because it is more ductile (pliable) and generally less expensive than Cold Finished drawn products.”
The first thing to remember is that the terms Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled do not refer to any grades or strengths, but merely the process used to create the bar product at the mill.
Hot Rolled Steel is softer and more pliable than Cold Rolled Steel. Hot Rolled Steel has a light- grey, rough finish and rounded edges (in Flat and Square Bars), and Hot Rolled products are typically oversized.
Hot Rolled steel bars are used in the welding and construction trades where the items being constructed do not require super precise shapes and tight tolerances.
Cold Rolled Steel typically has a smooth, somewhat shiny finish with square edges (in Flat and Square Bars), and the sizes are more precise.
Cold Finished steel bars are preferred in the machining world where the quality of the steel is an important factor of the quality of the final product, and the appearance of the steel is also an important factor.
Want to learn more about the differences between these metals? Visit our blog post on the topic! “Differences Between Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled Steel”
Steel is one of the most common materials used in precision sheet metal fabrication because of its strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. This versatile metal can be treated in several ways depending on the finish, intended use, and more.
The steel type you select can make or break your part’s success, so it’s important to understand the nuances of each process. We’ll break down the characteristics, applications, and cost implications of the two primary steel treatments, hot-rolled and cold-rolled, and share our advice from over 70 years of experience in Texas sheet metal fabrication.
Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel are the two most common steel treatments we see in our Texas sheet metal fabrication shop. Steel manufacturers heat large, rectangular pieces of steel to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit, then roll the steel through the mill to reach the desired shape.
Both hot and cold-rolled steel go through this process, but cold-rolled steel is re-rolled at room temperature for further compression.
Each treatment has benefits and drawbacks, but we generally find that hot-rolled steel is the more cost-effective choice.
Hot-rolled steel is easily identified due to its scaled surface, slight distortions, and rounded edges. These imperfections develop as the metal cools down. Hot-rolled steel may require decarburization or other surface treatments to prepare it for subsequent operations.
Despite its rough appearance, hot-rolled steel has several advantages:
There are, however, some downfalls associated with using hot-rolled steel:
Want more information on Hot Rolled Steel Slab? Feel free to contact us.
When customers work with All Metals Fabricating, our commitment to quality shines through. We source high-quality hot-rolled steel that will never have pitting, even when working with thicker sheets of steel.
Hot-rolled steel is suitable for many applications due to its cost-effectiveness and structural integrity from minimal processing. Powder-coating will increase the steel’s durability, even in extreme weather and under physical stress.
However, steel manufacturers have less control over the final shape, so hot-rolled steel is generally used for parts that don’t require tight tolerances.
Here are several applications where hot-rolled steel is ideal:
Unlike hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel is aesthetically pleasing, with a smooth and shiny surface that feels oily to the touch. The additional processing also creates perfectly squared angles with well-defined corners and edges.
Cold-rolling steel has many benefits, including:
Despite its superior appearance, there are several downsides to using cold-rolled steel:
The refined appearance of cold-rolled steel makes the cold-rolling treatment ideal for parts without surface finishes. The additional round of processing gives steel fabricators greater control over the final size of the sheet metal, so precision sheet metal fabrication parts requiring tight tolerances should use cold-rolled steel when possible.
Here are a few examples of applications that benefit from cold-rolled steel:
While hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel are the most common treatments in contract manufacturing, there are several alternative types with more specific applications:
Stainless steel is stronger than hot or cold-rolled steel, and it is much more weather and corrosion-resistant. This treatment is ideal for outdoor applications, especially near coastlines where corrosion from salt is prevalent.
Galvanized steel has a protective layer of zinc applied to the sheet. This material is long-lasting, making it an excellent choice for hard-to-reach applications like lines and equipment boxes. However, cutting galvanized steel exposes the raw steel, necessitating additional treatment for outdoor use.
AR500 steel is one of the hardest treatment types available. However, it’s also incredibly rigid, making it difficult to form. Steel with this treatment is most often used for targets in shooting ranges.
This treatment type is ideal for outdoor architectural and landscaping applications. Corten steel is also known as weathered steel because when left outside, it will develop a rust-like appearance, which provides a protective layer from corrosion and atmospheric elements.
Selecting a steel treatment is all about balance and finding the best fit for your part. For example, hot-rolled steel is often more cost-effective, but you likely should go with cold rolled steel if cosmetic appearance is important to you.
There are many considerations that go into choosing which type of steel to use! The AMF team has over 70 years of experience in selecting the best steel treatments, and we are always happy to work with customers to find the best solution for their parts.
For more information, please visit Tin Mill Steel.