Hot Rolled Steel vs Cold Rolled Steel

The first thing to remember is that the terms Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled do not refer to any grades or strengths, but merely the process used to create the bar product at the mill.

Hot Rolled Steel is softer and more pliable than Cold Rolled Steel. Hot Rolled Steel has a light- grey, rough finish and rounded edges (in Flat and Square Bars), and Hot Rolled products are typically oversized.

Hot Rolled steel bars are used in the welding and construction trades where the items being constructed do not require super precise shapes and tight tolerances.

Cold Rolled Steel typically has a smooth, somewhat shiny finish with square edges (in Flat and Square Bars), and the sizes are more precise.

Cold Finished steel bars are preferred in the machining world where the quality of the steel is an important factor of the quality of the final product, and the appearance of the steel is also an important factor.