Cold Rolled Steel vs. Cold Drawn Steel

Compare the Advantages

Cold rolled steel offers superior finish quality and mechanical properties relative to cold drawn steel. The process of cold drawing steel involves pushing or pulling the rod through a die to form the steel into its shape. While the process can be less expensive than cold rolling steel (depending on the shape), it may require several iterations, or cold drawing passes, to achieve the desired profile, which increases material handling and processing costs.

In terms of mechanical properties, cold drawn steel does not possess the superior hardness and smooth finish achieved by cold rolling steel. In cold rolling, the high pressure of the rolling mills mechanically works the steel, which causes changes in the mechanical properties including increased tensile strength, hardness and weld-ability, along with decreased ductility as the grain structure is changed.

Cold drawing steel also results in a comparatively rougher surface finish, with less uniformity in the mechanical properties from the rod moving through the die. Cold rolled steel offers the smoothest and most consistent finish of any pre-machined shaping process.

See the Difference

Compare cold rolled steel pricing and benefits against other steel manufacturing processes: