Starrett 54978 Low Carbon Steel Flat Stock 24x8x0.375 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 54978 is a low carbon steel flat stock bar cut to 24 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 0.375 inches thick. It is manufactured to AISI Type C1018 specification, a mild steel grade widely used in machining, fabrication, and structural applications where weldability and machinability take priority over hardness. At 20.4 pounds per piece, this is a substantial bar section suited for tool and die work, fixture plates, bracket fabrication, and general metalworking. Tolerances are held tight: length runs plus 0.625 inches, width holds plus 0.000 to plus 0.005 inches, and both thickness and squareness are controlled to plus or minus 0.001 inches, making this stock ready for precision secondary operations with minimal cleanup.

This flat bar is appropriate for job shop and maintenance applications requiring a reliable, tight-tolerance mild steel feedstock. Machinists, fabricators, millwrights, and maintenance trades use C1018 flat stock for base plates, wear strips, shim stock applications, slide components, and weld-on brackets. The consistent dimensional tolerances reduce setup time when the bar feeds directly into milling, drilling, or grinding operations. It is equally suited to light structural fabrication in commercial and industrial settings.

Key Features

• AISI Type C1018 low carbon steel for good machinability and weldability
• Thickness and squareness tolerance held to plus or minus 0.001 inches for precision fitment
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to plus 0.005 inches minimizes oversize interference fits
• Length tolerance of plus 0.625 inches allows facing cuts without going undersize
• 24 x 8 x 0.375 inch section provides significant material volume for multiple part extractions
• Sold as single piece with no multi-piece minimum beyond one unit

Compatibility

Designed as a general-purpose C1018 low carbon steel flat stock bar compatible with standard milling, drilling, sawing, and welding operations in job shop, maintenance, and light industrial fabrication environments.

Installation Notes

Handling and cutting of steel flat stock this size should be performed by qualified machinists or fabricators using appropriate lifting aids given the 20.4-pound weight. Secure the bar firmly in a vise or fixture before any machining or sawing operation. When welding C1018 steel, follow standard preheat and filler metal selection guidelines per AWS D1.1 or the applicable structural welding code. Wear appropriate PPE including cut-resistant gloves and eye protection during all handling and cutting operations.