Starrett 57320 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 1/8x1-3/4x36 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 57320 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar intended for toolmakers, die makers, machinists, and maintenance professionals who need pre-finished, tight-tolerance stock for custom tooling, punches, dies, fixtures, and gauging components. It measures 0.125 inches thick, 1.75 inches wide, and 36 inches long and ships at approximately 2.57 pounds. A2 tool steel offers a balance of wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability through the air-hardening heat-treat cycle, making it a practical choice when oil-quench distortion is a concern. Thickness and squareness tolerances are held to plus or minus 0.001 inches, giving machinists a reliable starting point before any grinding or milling operations.

This flat stock is suited for job shop, tool room, and industrial maintenance environments where raw tool steel stock is cut to length, machined, and then heat treated to final hardness. Typical applications include blanking dies, forming punches, shear blades, wear plates, and precision fixtures. Because the bar arrives in the annealed condition, it can be machined with conventional carbide tooling before hardening. The 36-inch length accommodates most bench and surface grinder setups without requiring initial parting.

Key Features

• AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel composition for minimal distortion during heat treatment
• Thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches for consistent stock removal allowance
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to 0.005 inches for close-fit tooling layouts
• Length tolerance of plus 0.25 inches allowing full usable 36-inch nominal length
• Squareness held to 0.003 inches per inch on all edges for flat, true stock
• Annealed condition allows conventional machining prior to hardening

Compatibility

Designed as a standard AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel flat bar suitable for general tool room and die shop applications requiring tight-tolerance pre-finished stock in the annealed condition.

Installation Notes

Cutting and machining of tool steel flat stock should be performed by a qualified machinist or toolmaker using appropriate carbide or high-speed tooling. Wear appropriate PPE including eye protection and gloves when cutting or grinding. Heat treatment to final hardness should follow AISI A2 recommended air-hardening procedures and must be performed before any finish grinding to final dimensions. Always allow the bar to fully cool before handling after any thermal operation.