Starrett 57182 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 5/16x3x18 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 57182 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar used in toolmaking, die work, and precision machining applications. It measures 5/16 inch thick, 3 inches wide, and 18 inches long, giving machinists and toolmakers a ready-to-machine blank with predictable hardening characteristics. A2 tool steel offers good dimensional stability during heat treatment and resists wear after hardening, making it a practical choice for punches, dies, blades, and gauges. The 57182 ships in a single piece and requires no minimum order beyond one unit.

This flat stock is suited for job shops, toolrooms, and maintenance departments that fabricate or repair tooling in-house. Typical applications include cutting dies, forming tools, wear plates, and fixture components where air-hardening steel is specified. A2 is frequently chosen over oil-hardening grades when closer dimensional control through the hardening cycle is required. Machinists working to tight finished tolerances will appreciate the controlled as-supplied tolerances on all faces.

Key Features

• A2 air-hardening tool steel for good wear resistance and dimensional stability during heat treat
• Thickness: 5/16 inch with a tolerance of +0.010 to +0.015 inches
• Width: 3 inches with a tolerance of +0.010 to +0.015 inches
• Length: 18 inches with a tolerance of +0.25 inch
• Square tolerance of +0.010 to +0.015 inches on cross-section
• Single-piece package with no order multiples required

Compatibility

Designed as a general-purpose A2 tool steel flat stock blank suitable for toolroom fabrication, die making, and precision component manufacture wherever AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel is specified.

Installation Notes

Cutting, grinding, and drilling operations on tool steel flat stock should be performed with appropriate coolant to prevent localized overheating. Heat treatment should be carried out by a qualified heat treater following AISI A2 specifications for austenitizing temperature and air-quench procedure. Always allow the bar to reach room temperature before taking final measurements. Personal protective equipment including eye protection and appropriate gloves should be used when machining or handling steel stock.