1117 Steel Shafts

Free-machining low-carbon steel that case-hardens well — a tough core with a hardenable surface.

At a glance

Stocked condition	Cold finished
Machinability	Very good (resulfurized)
Weldability	Fair — sulfur makes welds brittle; not recommended
Corrosion resistance	Low — protect it like any carbon steel
Hardening	Excellent case-hardening response (carburizing)
Density (nominal)	0.284 lb/in³
Food contact	No
Magnetic	Yes

1117 is the case-hardening specialist among the free-machining steels. Sulfur (not lead) provides the machinability, and its manganese content lets it carburize deeper and more uniformly than 1018, so you get a genuinely hard skin over a core that stays tough.

It is the natural pick for pins, studs, and light-duty gears and sprockets — parts that need a wear surface but see shock loads a through-hardened part would resent.

Configure a 1117 part →

Any geometry in the configurator — diameters, threads, keyseats, grooves, holes, tapers — can be machined in 1117. Pick the material in the sidebar and the price updates live.

When to choose 1117

The part will be carburized after machining and needs a deep, uniform case.
You want free-machining economics without lead.
Pins, studs, or gear blanks with a tough core and hard surface.

Consider instead

1018 — when welding matters more than machining speed.
12L14 — when no hardening is planned at all.
4140 — when the whole section needs to be hard, not just the skin.

Typical applications

Case-hardened pins and studs
Light-duty gears and sprockets
Cam followers and wear bushings
Splined stubs (case-hardened)

Frequently Asked Questions

Its higher manganese gives a deeper, more uniform carburized case, and its sulfur content machines noticeably faster. 1018 wins only when you also need to weld the part.

It is not recommended — the sulfur that makes it free-machining also makes welds hot-short and brittle. Use 1018 when welding is required.

No — we supply it machined in the cold-finished condition, ready for your heat treater to carburize. Hardening after machining keeps tolerances honest on the finished dimensions.

Stocked as 1117 CF — cold finished. Material and condition are paired — each grade ships in one condition optimized for our process; see all grades on the materials page.