C1010 Cold Heading Quality Steel Wire

C1010 is a low-carbon CHQ grade that balances formability and strength for general-purpose fastener manufacturing. With carbon content in the 0.08–0.13% range, it forms more easily than C1018 and supports deeper deformation, while delivering more as-headed strength than C1006.

It’s a common choice for screw and rivet production where the part geometry demands more formability than C1018 can deliver, but doesn’t require the extreme ductility of C1006.

Nevers and Company stocks C1010 in coil form from major US CHQ mills with A2LA-accredited labs. All material is USA melted and processed.

Chemistry (AISI / SAE 1010)

Element	Min	Max
Carbon (C)	0.08	0.13
Manganese (Mn)	0.30	0.60
Phosphorus (P)	—	0.040
Sulfur (S)	—	0.050

All values in weight percent. Heat analysis per AISI/SAE standards.

Typical Mechanical Properties (As-Drawn)

Property	Typical Value
Tensile strength	55,000 – 75,000 PSI
Yield strength	47,000 – 65,000 PSI
Reduction of area	65 – 75%
Elongation in 2 in.	20 – 30%

Properties vary with draft reduction and wire diameter.

Common Applications

• Sheet-metal and self-tapping screws — formable enough for sharp thread forming, strong enough for typical installation torques
• Small precision fasteners — machine screws, set screws, watch-grade hardware
• Solid rivets — assembly rivets requiring controlled clinching
• Cold-formed automotive parts — clips, retainers, brackets requiring moderate formability
• Electrical hardware — terminal screws, contact components where ductility and machinability both matter

C1010 vs. C1006 vs. C1018

Three closely related low-carbon grades, each with a defined sweet spot:

• C1006 — Choose when extreme formability is required and strength is secondary
• C1010 — Choose for general-purpose fasteners needing better formability than C1018 without the cost premium of C1006
• C1018 — Choose as the default for standard fasteners where balanced strength and formability are both important

If you’re running C1018 today and seeing cracking issues or die wear problems, C1010 is often the right step toward better formability before going to C1006.

Available Sizes

Nevers stocks C1010 in diameters from 0.072” to 0.500” (1.83 mm – 12.70 mm). Common stocked sizes:

• 0.139” – 0.219” for small fasteners and precision parts
• 0.235” – 0.328” for standard screws
• 0.345” – 0.500” for heavier components

Available Conditions

Nevers stocks C1010 in two spheroidize-annealed conditions, both with phosphate-and-lubricant (P&L) coating applied as standard for cold heading:

• SAFS (Spheroidized Annealed at Finish Size) — our default. Annealing is the final processing step before coating, producing the softest, most ductile condition with the lowest internal stress. Choose SAFS for severe upsetting, deep extrusion, and demanding cold-heading where maximum formability matters.

• SAIP (Spheroidized Annealed In Process) — adds $2/cwt over SAFS. Annealing is followed by a light final cold draw (6–9% reduction) that sets tighter dimensional tolerances and produces a bright drawn finish. Choose SAIP for high-speed automated headers where consistent diameter and smooth feed behavior matter more than maximum formability.

See Cold Heading Wire Finishes: SAFS vs SAIP for a detailed comparison.

For non-heading applications where annealing isn’t required, drawn-only C1010 is available on mill order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is C1010 wire used for? C1010 is a low-carbon CHQ steel wire used for sheet-metal screws, machine screws, rivets, and other cold-formed fasteners where moderate strength is needed and formability is more important than maximum as-headed strength.

Is C1010 weldable? Yes. C1010 has excellent weldability thanks to its low carbon content. It’s commonly used in welded or brazed assemblies.

Can C1010 be case-hardened? Yes. C1010 carburizes readily to produce a hardened case over a soft, tough core. This is common for self-tapping and self-drilling screw production.

Why not just use C1018 for everything? C1018 is stronger but less formable than C1010. For parts with deep extrusion, high-deformation heading, or thin walls, C1018 may crack where C1010 forms cleanly. The right grade depends on the part geometry, not just the strength spec.

What’s the difference between C1008 and C1010? C1008 has slightly lower carbon (0.10% max) than C1010 (0.08–0.13% range). C1010 is more commonly stocked and is the better default. C1008 is typically specified only when a specific OEM spec calls it out.

What’s the difference between SAFS and SAIP? Both SAFS and SAIP are spheroidize-annealed conditions, meaning the steel’s carbide microstructure has been converted to a softer, more cold-formable form. SAFS (Spheroidized Annealed at Finish Size) is annealed as the last processing step, producing the softest, most ductile material — best for severe upsetting and deep cold-heading. SAIP (Spheroidized Annealed In Process) is annealed and then given a light final cold draw, producing tighter dimensional tolerances and a bright finish. SAIP costs $2/cwt more than SAFS at Nevers.