In strength and other qualities steel castings resemble steel forgings much more than they do cast-iron castings. But for their marked superiority over cast-iron castings doubtless their greater cost would have stopped their production. Properly made steel castings are not brittle, but will stand a remarkable degree of cold bending without showing cracks or flaws. They are much stronger than wrought-iron forgings, and approach, or in many qualities equal or exceed, the elastic and tensile strength of rolled or forged steel. They are cheaper than forgings, except possibly those forgings made by the drop-forging process. Cast-steel castings are usually low enough in carbon to stand welding.

In considering the strength of steel castings, the elastic strength is highly important, as a casting is practically ruined after its elastic strength has been exceeded. A high per cent of elongation and high elastic limit are desirable. Absence of these is an indication of brittleness.