Starrett 54602 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 5/32x1-1/2x18 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 54602 is a piece of A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock cut to 5/32 inch thick, 1-1/2 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 wear resistance and toughness. This stock is supplied in the annealed condition, ready for machining, grinding, and heat treating to final hardness. Machinists, toolmakers, and die makers use flat stock like this to fabricate punches, dies, fixtures, gauges, and custom tooling components. Tolerances are held tight from the mill, making it suitable for precision tool-room applications.

This flat stock is appropriate for tool-room and job-shop use where a reliable, consistent pre-cut blank is needed. Typical applications include cutting tools, blanking dies, forming dies, and wear plates in light-to-medium production environments. The 18-inch length provides enough material for most single-component tooling blanks without excessive waste. The piece weighs approximately 1.2 pounds, making it easy to handle at the bench or vise.

Key Features

• A2 air-hardening tool steel (AISI type A2) for minimal distortion during heat treatment
• Thickness tolerance of +/- 0.001 inches for consistent stock removal during grinding
• Width tolerance of +0.000 to +0.005 inches, ensuring the blank stays at or just above nominal
• Length tolerance of +0.250 inches, providing a positive allowance for facing to final length
• Square tolerance of +/- 0.001 inches for reliable reference surfaces
• Supplied in individual cut lengths with no minimum order beyond one piece

Compatibility

Designed as a standard AISI A2 tool steel flat stock blank suitable for use in any application requiring air-hardening cold-work die steel in the 5/32 x 1-1/2 x 18 inch form factor.

Installation Notes

Machining and grinding of tool steel flat stock should be performed by qualified toolmakers or machinists familiar with tool steel handling. Heat treatment to final hardness requires controlled atmosphere or vacuum furnace equipment to achieve proper A2 hardening results and should be performed according to established metallurgical procedures for AISI A2 steel. Allow stock to reach room temperature before precision grinding to final dimensions. Wear appropriate PPE when cutting, grinding, or machining tool steel.