Steel Flat Bar

Differing in their manufacturing process, hot-rolled flat bars and cold-rolled flat bars offer contrasting properties where one material may be better suited to your needs than the other. With hot-rolled materials processed at higher temperatures and cold-rolled variations processed at room temperature, the differences between the materials include:

• Hot-rolled flat bars feature rounded square edges compared to cold-rolled flat bars’ more defined square edges
• Cold-rolled bars provide a smooth, oily feel, while hot-rolled bars have a rough, scaly surface
• Hot-rolled materials will have less precise dimensions, lower strength, and a lower cost
• Cold-rolled materials meet tighter tolerances with a higher strength and hardness, but at a higher price than that of hot-rolled options

Features of Hot-Rolled Flat Bars

Offering a great general-purpose material, hot-rolled steel flat bars can be used for nearly any application. With a scaly surface and lower hardness than cold-rolled flat bars, this material is easy to weld and machine, and it can be heat-treated for additional hardness. Benefits of hot-rolled flat bars include:

• 36 KSI minimum yield strength
• Certified to ASTM A36 and ASME SA36
• Milled in the United States
• Available in thicknesses ranging from 1/8” up to 1”; sizes thicker than 1” can be special ordered
• Standard in 20’ lengths, but can be purchased by the foot up to 10’

Properties of Cold-Rolled Flat Bars

Cold-rolled flat bars are made from a 1018 steel alloy, offering superior machining properties and a beneficial material for welding and fabricating operations. This material option can achieve tighter tolerances, a smoother surface finish, and closer dimensional accuracy compared to hot-rolled steel flat bars, supported by additional features, such as:

• Harder and stiffer than hot-rolled flat bars
• Extreme durability and high strength
• Available in thicknesses ranging from 1/8” to 2”; sizes thicker than 2” can be special ordered
• Standard in 12’ lengths, but can be purchased by the foot up to 6’

Applications and Uses for Cold-Rolled and Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Bars

Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel flat bars offer high-quality features and material properties that can be utilized to serve various industries, providing solutions to meet your exact needs. Applications for hot-rolled and cold-rolled flat bar materials include, but are not limited to, the following:

Hot-Rolled Flat Bar Applications

• Structural components, bracing and framing, as well as gates and fences
• General-purpose fabricated parts, brackets, and reinforcements
• Industrial machine parts and material handling equipment
• Agricultural equipment, tractors, combines, and farming machinery
• Sculptures, decorative applications, and storage solutions

Cold-Rolled Flat Bar Industrial Uses

• Precision shafts, axles, dowels, and spindles
• Internal components and cabinets for appliances and household goods
• Commercial and residential structural supports, framing, bracing, and roofing
• Furniture and shelving components

Competitive Metals is a Preferred Partner for Hot and Cold-Rolled Steel Flat Bars

As a top distributor of metal products, Competitive Metals offers an extensive inventory that includes aluminum, Chromoly, stainless steel, and galvanized steel, in addition to a wide range of steel products. If you require a size or material not listed, we provide specialty sourcing solutions to meet your needs.

Located in Southern California, we offer same-day or next-day shipping throughout Orange County, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Ramona, providing high-quality products at competitive prices with solutions made to your exact specifications. Contact us to discuss your requirements for hot- or cold-rolled steel flat bar products, or request a quote to begin.