Abstract Machine parts can be produced by one of various manufacturing methods such as forging, machining, casting or welding methods. Choice of the manufacturing method depends on production costs of the alternatives for individual parts. Friction welding method as a mass production process is finding increasing industrial acceptance, particularly for joining dissimilar materials. One of the areas using much more of the method is the tool industry. In this study, an experimental set-up was designed and produced to achieve the friction welding of components having equal diameter. The set-up was designed as continuous drive, and transition from friction to forging stage can be done automatically. In the experiments, high-speed steel (HSS—S 6-5-2) and medium-carbon steel (AISI 1040) were used. Post-weld annealing was applied to the joints at 650 °C for 4 h. First, the optimum welding parameters for the joints were obtained. Later, the strengths of the joints were determined by tension, fatigue and notch-impact tests, and results were compared with the tensile strengths of materials. Then, hardness variations and microstructures in the post-weld of the joints were obtained and examined. Then, obtained results were compared with those of previous studies.