Steel W1 · temper · default condition
Steel W1 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other W1 tempers.
Default stock condition for bar, flat and drill rod — machine, form and file it, then harden.
What is W1 Annealed?
W1 Annealed is W1 in the Annealed temper — default stock condition for bar, flat and drill rod — machine, form and file it, then harden. W1 Annealed has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). W1 Annealed has a density of 7.83 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 77% of steel grades
W1 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for W1 Annealed — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every W1 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
W1 Annealed has a density of 7.83 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical15
W1 Annealed has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
W1 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.4 µm/m·K (6.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W1 Annealed conducts electricity at 9.5 % IACS, better than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (8/100), worse than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W1 Annealed takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
W1 Annealed's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability fair (35/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other W1 tempers and conditions
W1 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the W1 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for bar, flat and drill rod — machine, form and file it, then harden.460 MPa yield · 200 HB
- Hardened & TemperedMaximum hardness and wear/edge retention for files, razors, scrapers and engraving tools; accept brittleness and shallow case.2,000 MPa yield · 64 HRC
- Q&TGeneral working condition for punches, chisels and dies where some toughness must be traded against edge hardness.1,700 MPa yield · 58 HRC
- Cold DrawnChoose when you want close diameter tolerance and a bright surface straight from stock (classic W1 drill rod).620 MPa yield · 215 HB
Working with W1 Annealed
Is W1 easy to machine?
Machines readily in the spheroidize-annealed state (~30 % of AISI 1212) with sharp HSS or coated carbide; above ~55 HRC only grinding, EDM or CBN turning is practical.
Can W1 be welded?
Poor weldability — high carbon promotes quench cracking; if unavoidable preheat 250–350 °C, use matching or low-hydrogen filler and temper immediately after.
Can W1 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 900–1050 °C (never below ~850 °C) then slow-cool and spheroidize anneal 740–760 °C; cold bending is limited and should be done annealed with generous radii.
What surface finishes work on W1?
Takes a very fine ground and polished edge; no anodizing — protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate or thin chrome/nitride coatings since bare W1 rusts quickly.
W1 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Csupplied in graded carbon levels (e.g. W1-8 ≈ 0.80 %C, W1-10 ≈ 1.00 %C, W1-13 ≈ 1.30 %C) per ASTM A686 | 0.7 – 1.5 | 1 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Crresidual max | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Niresidual max | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Moresidual max | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Vresidual max; V-modified W1 variants up to 0.35 | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Wresidual max | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
W1 Annealed — frequently asked
What is W1 Annealed used for?
W1 Annealed is typically used for hand chisels, woodworking tools and scissors. In short: sharpest cutting edge.
What is the yield strength of W1 Annealed?
W1 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is W1 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machines readily in the spheroidize-annealed state (~30 % of AISI 1212) with sharp HSS or coated carbide; above ~55 HRC only grinding, EDM or CBN turning is practical.
Can W1 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Poor weldability — high carbon promotes quench cracking; if unavoidable preheat 250–350 °C, use matching or low-hydrogen filler and temper immediately after.
What surface finishes work on W1 Annealed?
Takes a very fine ground and polished edge; no anodizing — protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate or thin chrome/nitride coatings since bare W1 rusts quickly.
Can W1 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 900–1050 °C (never below ~850 °C) then slow-cool and spheroidize anneal 740–760 °C; cold bending is limited and should be done annealed with generous radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of W1 Annealed?
W1 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in W1 Annealed?
Yes — W1 Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A686 — Standard Specification for Tool Steel, Carbon — ASTM International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Tool Materials — ASM International (1995)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
- GB/T 1298 T7A–T13A (2008)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.