C1018 Cold Heading Quality Steel Wire

Available on special order. C1018 is not stocked at our Rockford warehouse — our stocked grades are C1006, C1010, C1022, C1038, 10B21, and 4037. For C1018 requirements, contact us with your size and quantity needs and we’ll quote sourcing and lead time.

C1018 is widely used across North American fastener manufacturing for general-purpose screws, bolts, rivets, and stampings where moderate strength and good machinability are required. While we don’t stock C1018, we can source it on special order from major US CHQ mills with A2LA-accredited labs.

Chemistry (AISI / SAE 1018)

Element	Min	Max
Carbon (C)	0.15	0.20
Manganese (Mn)	0.60	0.90
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	65,000 – 85,000 PSI
Yield strength	55,000 – 75,000 PSI
Reduction of area	60 – 70%
Elongation in 2 in.	15 – 25%
Brinell hardness	126 – 165 HB

Properties vary with draft reduction and final wire diameter. Annealed and spheroidize-annealed variants available on request.

Common Applications

• Fasteners: Wood screws, machine screws, sheet-metal screws, low-grade bolts, hex-head cap screws
• Rivets: Solid and semi-tubular rivets for assembly and structural use
• Cold-formed parts: Pins, dowels, shafts, hinge components
• Stamped components: Brackets, clips, and retainers requiring moderate formability
• Welded assemblies: Excellent weldability for fabricated parts

Available Sizes

C1018 is available on special order in diameters from 0.072” to 0.625” (1.83 mm – 15.88 mm). Common sizes include:

• 0.135” – 0.250” for small fasteners and rivets
• 0.281” – 0.437” for standard bolt diameters
• 0.500” – 0.625” for heavier structural fasteners

Contact us with your size and quantity requirements and we’ll quote sourcing and lead time.

Available Conditions

C1018 is available on special order in either SAFS or SAIP condition, both with phosphate-and-lubricant (P&L) coating:

• SAFS (Spheroidized Annealed at Finish Size) — Annealing is the final processing step before coating, producing the softest, most ductile condition. Choose for severe upsetting, deep extrusion, and demanding cold-heading.

• SAIP (Spheroidized Annealed In Process) — Adds $2/cwt over SAFS. A light final cold draw sets tighter dimensional tolerances and produces a bright drawn finish. Choose for high-speed automated headers where dimensional consistency matters.

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

Why Buyers Source C1018 Through Nevers

• CHQ specialization since 1977 — established mill relationships for sourcing
• ISO 9001:2015 certified by Eagle Registrations (ANAB-accredited)
• USA melted, USA processed — full mill traceability with every shipment
• Mill certs and packing lists delivered with every order

Frequently Asked Questions

What is C1018 wire used for? C1018 is a low-carbon cold heading quality steel wire used primarily for manufacturing screws, bolts, rivets, and other cold-formed fasteners where moderate strength and good formability are required.

What is the difference between C1018 and C1022? C1022 has higher carbon content (0.18–0.23%) and higher manganese, producing greater as-headed strength. C1018 is more formable and weldable. Choose C1022 for higher-strength fasteners and C1018 for general-purpose applications.

Is C1018 weldable? Yes. C1018 has excellent weldability due to its low carbon content. It is commonly used in welded assemblies and fabricated parts.

Can C1018 be heat treated? C1018 can be case-hardened (carburized) to produce a hard surface with a tough core, but it does not respond well to through-hardening due to its low carbon content. For through-hardening applications, consider 10B21 or 4037.

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.

Does Nevers offer C1018 in spheroidize-annealed condition? Yes, on special order. C1018 is not stocked at our Rockford warehouse. Contact us with your grade, size, and quantity requirements and we’ll quote sourcing and lead time.