A guide to steels available, their properties and uses.

EN1A is the bright mild steel in widest use.  It is available as round, square, hexagonal, and flat bar. Three types are available - normal free-cutting, precision ground free-cutting, and leaded free-cutting which allows for higher machining speeds and good finish than the regular variety. EN1A is not recommended for welding, and is poor for hardening.

EN3B/EN32B are general purpose bright mild steels. Both are suitable for welding, and EN32B is suitable for case hardening. Good machinability but not as good as EN1A.

Key Steel EN6 is bright drawn medium carbon steel for keyway keys.

EN8D and EN8DM (semi free-cutting) are medium carbon steels with medium tensile strength used for axles, shafts, spindles and studs. In bright and black forms. Not recommended for welding.

EN32M  is a bright drawn semi free-cutting case hardening steel. Uses include light gears, spindles and worms. Not recommended for welding.

EN16T is direct hardening steel. Good mechanical properties, ductility and shock resistance. Used for full-size crankshafts, con-rods and shafts. Specialist welding only.

EN24T is a direct hardening steel with good tensile, ductility, shock and wear resistance properties. Specialist welding treatment.

303S31 is a general purpose free-cutting stainless steel available in a full range of imperial and metric diameters. Also hexagons.