Zinc

1. Carbon content affects strength and weldability

• Carbon steel gets its properties from the amount of carbon in the mix.
• Low-carbon steel 1018 is softer, easier to form, and much more weldable.
• Medium-carbon steel 1045 is stronger and more wear-resistant, but harder to weld and less forgiving during fabrication.

2. Know your grades: 1018 vs. 1045
Two of the most common carbon steel grades 1018 and 1045 offer you different benefits.

• 1018 is great for machining, forming, and welding. It’s a go-to for shafts, pins, and general structural parts.
• 1045 brings higher strength and durability for components under stress like gears, axles, or heavy machinery parts.

3. Heat treatment can take it to the next level
Carbon steel is highly responsive to heat treatment. Processes like quenching and tempering can enhance strength, improve wear resistance, or fine-tune mechanical performance depending on your end use.

4. Surface hardness 
A feature of carbon steel is how it can be hardened on the outside while remaining tough and ductile inside. This makes it a go-to for parts like pins, bushings, and wear surfaces when long term durability is required.

5. It’s cost-effective, eco-friendly with protection
Carbon steel delivers outstanding value. It’s more affordable than many alloy steels while still offering the strength and versatility you need for a wide range of applications. It can be recycled too.

Carbon steel is prone to rust. You can prevent this to extend the life of carbon steel by applying oil coatings, painting, or prevent it from being exposed to moisture.

Some common uses for carbon steel:

• Structural frames and supports
• Shafts, axles, and rods
• Gears and mechanical components
• Bolts, pins, and fasteners
• Automotive parts and tooling
• Machine shop projects and DIY builds
• Construction bars, plates, and tubing

How Online Metals Can Help You
Online Metals makes it easy to find exactly what materials you need. With the widest selection of carbon steel shapes and alloys in the U.S.. we deliver both to business and homes with no minimum orders. high tolerance custom cuts all supported by our first in class customer support, fast order processing, and economical on-time delivery.