Bright-drawn and bright-annealed wire can look almost the same on a coil. They behave very differently once you try to form, bend or weld them, so the finish is a functional choice, not a cosmetic one.
Bright-drawn — hard, smooth, springy
Drawing work-hardens the wire. Bright-drawn sections come off the last pass strong and smooth, with a tight surface and good dimensional accuracy. The trade-off is ductility: bend it too far and it cracks. Springs, clips and parts that must hold their shape are usually bright-drawn.
Bright-annealed — soft, ductile, stress-free
Annealing in a protective atmosphere softens the wire and relieves the stress left by drawing, without the dull oxide scale you get from ordinary annealing. The surface stays clean and bright. If the part has to be bent, swaged, welded or formed hard, annealed is the safer choice.
How to choose
- Forming. Tight bends or heavy deformation → annealed.
- Spring. The part has to push back → bright-drawn.
- Welding. More welding, less cracking → annealed.
- Surface. Both are bright; annealed is slightly softer to the touch and easier to polish.
If you are not sure, tell us how the part is formed and we will suggest a finish. More on the sections in our shaped wire range, or send the drawing.
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