Drill Rod Tool Steels 85997781 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock

Product Description

The DRILL ROD TOOL STEELS 85997781 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar intended for toolmakers, machinists, and die makers who require a dimensionally consistent, machinable blank before heat treatment. Measuring 1/16 inch thick by 4 inches wide by 18 inches long, this flat stock ships in the annealed condition, ready for machining, grinding, and then air-quench hardening. AISI A2 offers good dimensional stability during hardening and a useful balance of wear resistance and toughness, making it a common choice for dies, punches, forming tools, and gauges. Weight is 1.29 pounds per piece.

A2 air-hardening flat stock is used in tool and die shops, maintenance departments, and precision machine shops for fabricating blanks that will be hardened in-house. The 4-inch width and 18-inch length give a practical starting size for medium-format punches, stripper plates, and fixtures. Because the stock hardens in still air rather than oil or water, distortion is minimized, which is especially valuable in wide, thin cross-sections like this 1/16-inch thickness. Licensed machinists and toolmakers are the primary installers and processors of this material.

Key Features

• AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel for minimal distortion during heat treatment
• Annealed flat stock ready for machining and grinding prior to hardening
• Thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches for consistent fit in close-tolerance tooling
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to minus 0.005 inches
• Length tolerance of plus or minus 0.062 inches
• Squareness held to 0.003 inches on edges and 0.004 inches per inch of thickness on ends

Compatibility

Designed as an OEM-style replacement blank for applications requiring AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock in a 1/16 x 4 x 18-inch profile.

Installation Notes

Processing A2 tool steel flat stock should be performed by a qualified machinist or toolmaker familiar with tool steel heat treatment procedures. Follow the material manufacturer's recommended annealing, hardening, and tempering cycles for AISI A2; air-quench procedures require controlled shop conditions to achieve target hardness. Use appropriate grinding wheel grades and coolant when finish-grinding hardened sections to avoid surface burns. Consult applicable shop safety standards when handling and storing tool steel stock.