Continental Trading Corp. supplies secondary high carbon spring wire from North American producers at wholesale prices. Spring wire is a hard-drawn, high-carbon steel wire specifically produced for the manufacturing of springs. It is low-alloy or medium-alloy manganese steel with high to very high tensile strength, giving spring products the ability to return to their original shape after significant deflection or compression.
Our secondary spring wire is material that fell outside a specific prime order — typically due to tensile variation, surface marks, or overproduction. The physical properties that define spring wire performance — high tensile, good fatigue life, consistent diameter — are largely intact, making this an excellent value for spring manufacturers.
High Carbon Spring Wire — Properties & Specifications
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Carbon Grade | High carbon C1060–C1090 |
| Tensile Strength | 1,600–2,200 MPa (varies by diameter) |
| Diameter Range | 0.50mm – 12.0mm |
| Process | Hard drawn (not oil tempered) |
| Standards | ASTM A227 / A228 (secondary — may not be certified) |
| Supply Form | Coils or spools |
| Quality | Secondary / Second choice (non-prime) |
Who Buys Non-Prime High Carbon Spring Wire?
Spring wire buyers are diverse — reflecting the enormous range of products that incorporate coiled spring components. Furniture spring manufacturers are among the largest volume buyers. Box spring manufacturers, furniture upholstery producers, and seating manufacturers consume spring wire in large quantities, and the economics of spring production are strongly influenced by wire input cost. Second choice spring wire that meets the basic tensile and diameter requirements for furniture spring coiling is widely used in this sector.
Industrial spring manufacturers — producing compression springs, extension springs, and torsion springs for machinery, automotive components, and industrial equipment — are significant buyers of hard-drawn high carbon spring wire. For many industrial spring applications, the fatigue life and tensile consistency of oil-tempered wire is not required, and hard-drawn second choice spring wire provides excellent performance at lower cost.
Beyond spring manufacturing, second choice high carbon spring wire has found markets in hair accessory production (bobby pins, hair clips), flexible ducting reinforcement, and specialty wire form manufacturing. Buyers in Asia — particularly furniture manufacturing hubs in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China — are consistent importers of North American second choice spring wire. Contact us with your diameter and tensile requirements.
Sourcing & Availability
High carbon spring wire is hard-drawn — cold drawn through dies without subsequent oil-tempering — to achieve high tensile strength through work hardening. Second choice spring wire arises when tensile values fall at the edge of the specified range, when diameter tolerance is slightly exceeded, or when surface condition falls outside the prime specification. The work hardening and mechanical properties of the wire are present in second choice material.
Continental Trading Corp. sources spring wire from major North American wire facilities across a diameter range of 0.5mm to 12mm. Carbon grades typically range from C1060 to C1090. Availability is reasonably consistent because spring wire is produced in high volumes by multiple North American facilities. Common coil weights are 200–500kg for spooled wire and larger for loose coils.
Spring wire exports well to Asia, where furniture and industrial manufacturing is concentrated. Buyers who work with us regularly receive first access to available lots before we offer material more broadly. Contact us to establish a supply relationship.
Applications
Secondary spring wire from Continental Trading is used by spring manufacturers worldwide for furniture springs, box spring mattress coils, garage door springs, automotive suspension components, and industrial machinery springs. Beyond spring making, our customers have repurposed this wire for hair bobby pins, flexible air duct reinforcement wire, wire forms, and specialty fasteners. High tensile strength makes it suitable wherever rigidity and fatigue resistance matter.
Specifications
Spring wire is typically hard-drawn (not oil tempered) high carbon steel — carbon content generally C1060–C1090. Tensile strength commonly ranges 1,600–2,200 MPa depending on diameter. Diameters range from approximately 0.5mm to 12mm. Common standards include ASTM A227, A228. Contact us with your required tensile class and diameter range.
