1117 Steel Shafts

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

At a glance

Supplied 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.

Supplied as 1117 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.