Cold Drawing: Precision Metal Shaping for Superior Performance

One of DEECO Metals’ specialized product offerings is cold drawn metal shapes. A manufacturing process that delivers close-tolerance, precision profiles in brass, bronze, other copper alloys, stainless steel, and carbon steel. Cold drawing enhances mechanical properties, improves surface finish, and provides tight dimensional control.

This resource page offers an in-depth overview of the cold drawing process, its advantages, typical applications, and the added value it brings to your products.

What is Cold Drawing?

Cold drawing is a precision metalworking process in which a metal workpiece, such as a round or shaped bar, wire, or tube, is pulled through a die at or near room temperature. Unlike hot rolling, cold drawing reshapes the material without applied heat, resulting in improved strength, hardness, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality.

How the Cold Drawing Process Works

1. Starting Material
   A hot-rolled or pre-processed shaped bar (in coil or cut lengths) is selected as the starting material.
2. Pointing the Material
   One end up to +/- 20” long of the starting material is pointed (tapered) so it can pass through the drawing die.
3. Drawing Through Dies
   The pointed end is gripped with a crocodile clamping system from a drawing machine and pulled through the die. This reduces the cross-section and reshapes the material.
4. Multi-Stage Drawing
   The process is repeated through progressively smaller or specially shaped dies for significant dimensional or shape changes.

Key Advantages of Cold Drawing

• Dimensional Precision
  Achieve tight tolerances and consistent sizing from bar to bar, ideal for high-precision applications.
• Superior Surface Finish
  Drawing through dies removes surface impurities and oxides, producing a bright, polished finish, often eliminating the need for secondary finishing or machining.
• Enhanced Mechanical Properties
  Work hardening during the drawing process increases tensile and yield strength, reducing or eliminating the need for further heat treatment.
• Versatile Profiles
  Round, square, hexagonal, flat, and custom profiles can be accurately drawn to close tolerance specs. Die geometry defines the final shape.

Material Effects of Cold Drawing

• Size Control
  Cold drawing precisely defines final dimensions, with elongation helping control finished bar lengths.
• Shape Customization
  The die defines the final shape e.g., a round bar drawn through a square die becomes square.
• Surface Refinement
  The die contact naturally polishes and refines the surface. Black steel bars become smooth, bright rods.
• Strength Enhancement
  Strain hardening boosts strength and hardness. If needed, this can be reversed via heat treatment to restore ductility.

Industry Applications

Cold drawing is essential in producing:

• Steel and Stainless-Steel, Bars, shapes, Wire & Tubing
  Used in construction, automotive parts, fasteners, machinery, aerospace, many other industrial products, and consumer products.
• Brass, Bronze, Nickel Silver, and Copper Profiles
  Extruded shapes are drawn or rolled for dimensional accuracy. They are perfect for architectural components decorative elements, door hardware, lock bodies, electrical systems, and other precision parts requiring electrical conductivity, strength, corrosion resistance, and aesthetic appeal.

Cold Drawn Bar Capabilities at DEECO Metals

For bar diameters under 2 inches, cold drawing is the preferred precision shaping method. Larger sections may be hot-rolled or forged prior to final cold drawing.

Our plants capabilities include:

• Drawing round bars into square, hex, flat, or custom profiles
• Multi-pass drawing for tight dimensional control and special shapes
• Optional post-drawing heat treatments to balance strength, ductility, and hardness

Customer Benefits

Improved Dimensional Accuracy

• Reduced machining and material losses
• Uniform size across every piece and lot

Superior Surface Finish

• Cold-drawn bars or shapes have a superior surface finish. Ind, if necessary, the bars or pieces can be milled, ground, or polished to the required surface finish
• Defect-free surfaces on the material are essential when passing through tight tolerance machine collets or machining chucks when turning the bars or shapes into components

Better Straightness

• Ideal for automated feeding in CNC, automatic Swiss screw machines, milling, and other types of machines

Enhanced Mechanical Properties

• Higher yield and tensile strength
• Improved hardness and formability for machining and forming

Greater Machinability

• Faster machining rates are achieved on drawn material
• Longer tool life and increased part yield

Cost Efficiency

• Reduced material waste, near net shape shapes, or bars
• Minimal secondary processing required

Ready to Learn More?

DEECO Metals is your trusted partner for cold-drawn precision metal profiles. Whether your needs call for structural integrity, a refined appearance, or a precision fit, our plant's advanced cold-drawing capabilities deliver consistent results.

Contact us today to discuss your project or request a quote. We’re here to help you get the exact product you need on spec, on time, and on budget.