EN8 is the default medium carbon steel for shafts, axles, studs, keys and general machined components — strong enough for most jobs, tough enough to forgive, and flame hardenable to 50–55 HRC where a wear surface is needed. If a Nottingham drawing simply says “steel”, it usually means EN8.
We stock EN8 (080M40) in bright drawn bar from 6mm to 150mm and hot rolled black bar from 16mm to 250mm — rounds, hexagons, squares and flats — alongside the related grades machine shops ask for: EN8D to analysis, free-cutting EN8M, and EN19 where more strength is needed.
Local advantage: we are 20 minutes from Nottingham city centre. Order in the morning and collect cut pieces the same day on stock sizes, or have them delivered on our own vehicle.