Drill Rod Tool Steels 85998318 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock

Product Description

The DRILL ROD TOOL STEELS 85998318 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar cut to 3/8 inches thick, 5/8 inches 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 toughness and wear resistance. This flat stock ships in its annealed condition, ready for machining, grinding, and subsequent heat treat to working hardness. Machinists, tool-and-die makers, and metalworking shops use this material to fabricate punches, dies, gauges, and precision tooling components. At 1.21 pounds per piece, the bar is manageable for bench work and small fixture builds.

This flat stock is suited for cold-work tooling applications in job shops, tool rooms, and production machining environments. Typical uses include blanking dies, forming tools, shear blades, and drill jigs where dimensional accuracy and predictable air-hardening response are required. The bar is supplied to close tolerances, making it appropriate for applications where near-net-shape stock is preferred to reduce grinding time.

Key Features

• AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel - stable geometry through heat treat cycle
• Thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches for precision stock removal planning
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to minus 0.005 inches
• Length tolerance of plus or minus 0.062 inches
• Squareness: edge 0.003 inches and ends 0.004 inches per inch of thickness
• Annealed condition - ready for machining before hardening

Compatibility

Designed as a standard A2 tool steel flat bar for use in cold-work tooling, die making, and precision machining applications where AISI A2 material specification is required.

Installation Notes

Cutting and machining of tool steel flat stock should be performed by qualified machinists or tool-and-die personnel using appropriate speeds, feeds, and cutting fluids for tool steel. Heat treatment to working hardness should follow the material supplier's recommended austenitizing and air-quench procedure for A2 steel. Always allow the bar to reach ambient temperature before precision grinding. Secure workpieces properly in vises or fixtures before any cutting operation.