Drill Rod Tool Steels 85997708 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock

Product Description

The DRILL ROD TOOL STEELS 85997708 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock cut to 1/16 inch thick, 1/2 inch wide, and 18 inches long. A2 tool steel is an air-hardening, cold-work die steel known for its dimensional stability during heat treatment and its balance of wear resistance and toughness. This flat stock is precision-ground to tight tolerances, making it suitable for fabricating punches, dies, gauges, and cutting tools. Machinists, tool-and-die makers, and industrial maintenance technicians typically work with this material in job shop and production environments.

This flat stock is used in cold-work tooling applications where dimensional accuracy after hardening is critical. The small cross-section - 1/16 inch by 1/2 inch - suits thin die blades, small punches, form tools, and precision fixture components. At 18 inches in length, the bar can be cut to individual part blanks with standard metal-cutting equipment. The material conforms to AISI Type A2 specification.

Key Features

• AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel - minimizes distortion during heat treatment compared to oil-hardening grades
• Tight thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches for consistent stock removal during grinding
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to minus 0.005 inches for controlled fit in close-tolerance applications
• Length tolerance of plus or minus 0.062 inches for predictable blank cutting
• Squareness held to 0.003 inches on edges and 0.004 inches per inch of thickness on ends
• Compact 1/16 x 1/2 x 18 inch size suited to thin tooling and precision component blanks

Compatibility

Designed as a standard AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock suitable for cold-work die and tooling fabrication applications requiring consistent dimensional tolerances.

Installation Notes

Cutting, grinding, and heat treatment of tool steel should be performed by qualified machinists or tool-and-die makers using appropriate metalworking equipment and personal protective equipment. Follow the material supplier heat-treatment guidelines for AISI A2 steel regarding austenitizing temperature, air-quench procedure, and tempering cycles - do not substitute generic carbon steel heat-treat parameters. Grinding after hardening requires coolant to prevent surface burning and loss of hardness. Inspect finished blanks dimensionally before placing in service.