| Parameter |
Hot Rolled Steel |
Cold Drawn Steel |
| Manufacturing process |
Hot rolling |
Cold drawing |
| Surface finish |
Rough and black |
Smooth and bright |
| Mechanical properties |
Lower tensile strength and yield strength |
Higher tensile strength and yield strength |
| Cost |
Less expensive |
More expensive |
| Dimensional tolerances |
Less precise |
More precise |
| Straightness |
Less straight |
More straight |
| Workability |
Harder to work with |
Easier to work with |
| Corrosion resistance |
Lower |
Higher |
| Magnetic properties |
Magnetic |
Magnetic |
| Machinability |
Worse |
Better |
| Elongation |
20-30% |
15-20% |
| Visual appearance |
Rough and black |
Smooth and bright |
| Net cost of using bright bar vs black bar |
10% less expensive |
10% more expensive |
| Heat treatment |
Can be heat treated to improve mechanical properties |
Not typically heat treated |
| Speed of turning |
Slower |
Faster |
| Depth of cut |
Less |
More |
| Scrap loss |
More |
Less |
| Time needed per part |
Longer |
Shorter |
| Cost per part |
Higher |
Lower |
