1018 Steel Shafts

Low-carbon mild steel, weldable and easy to machine, a solid all-around pick.

At a glance

Supplied condition	Cold finished
Machinability	Good
Weldability	Excellent, the most weldable steel we offer
Corrosion resistance	Low, protect it like any carbon steel
Hardening	Case-hardens well (carburizing); not through-hardenable
Density (nominal)	0.284 lb/in³
Food contact	No
Magnetic	Yes

1018 is the general-purpose mild steel: low carbon, no free-machining additives, and predictable in every downstream process. It welds cleanly, case-hardens well when a wear surface is needed, and cold-finished bar gives a good baseline of strength and straightness for shafting.

Choose it over 12L14 when the part's life doesn't end at the lathe, welding a sprocket boss on, carburizing a journal, or brazing. If the shaft will only ever be machined, 12L14 does the same job for less.

Configure a 1018 part →

Any geometry in the configurator, diameters, threads, keyseats, grooves, holes, tapers, can be machined in 1018. Pick the material in the sidebar and the price updates live.

When to choose 1018

You or your fabricator will weld to the shaft.
A journal or wear surface will be case-hardened after machining.
You want a plain, paper-trail-friendly mild steel with no lead.

Consider instead

12L14, for lower cost when no welding or hardening is planned.
1045, when the shaft needs more core strength.
1117, for easier machining that still case-hardens.

Typical applications

Weld-on shafts and axles
Case-hardened pins and journals
Machine bases and fixture shafts
General bracketry and spacers

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, 1018 is a low-carbon steel and welds cleanly with any common process, no preheat needed at shaft sizes. It is the grade to pick when welding is part of the plan.

Not through-hardened, the carbon is too low. It case-hardens well by carburizing, giving a hard skin over a tough core, which suits journals and wear pins.

Pick 1018 if the part will be welded or case-hardened. Pick 12L14 if it will only be machined; it cuts faster and costs less, but its lead content makes it unweldable.

Supplied as 1018 CF, cold finished, machined from bar sourced per order. Material and condition are paired. Each grade ships in one condition optimized for our process; see all grades on the materials page.