Starrett 57342 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 5/16x1-3/4x36in

Product Description

The STARRETT 57342 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar used in toolmaking, die making, and precision machining applications. Cut to 36 inches in length, 1-3/4 inches wide, and 5/16 inches thick, it ships ready for layout, machining, and heat treatment. A2 tool steel offers good wear resistance, dimensional stability during air hardening, and moderate toughness, making it a dependable choice for punches, dies, gauges, and cutting tools. Thickness tolerance is held to plus or minus 0.001 inches, and squareness is controlled to 0.003 inches per inch on all edges. Licensed machinists, tool and die makers, and precision fabricators are the primary users of this material.

This flat stock is suited for general toolroom use in both job shop and production environments. Typical applications include fabricating blanking dies, forming tools, shear blades, and precision fixtures where air-hardening steel is specified. The 36-inch bar length accommodates most standard toolroom layouts without additional sawing. The close-tolerance ground surfaces reduce hand-fitting time during tool construction.

Key Features

• AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel for dimensional stability during heat treatment
• Thickness held to plus or minus 0.001 inches for precision fit-up
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to 0.005 inches
• Length tolerance of plus 0.25 inches
• Squareness controlled to 0.003 inches per inch on all edges
• 36-inch bar length suits standard toolroom stock requirements

Compatibility

Designed as a standard A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock for use in toolroom, die shop, and precision machining applications where AISI A2 material is specified.

Installation Notes

Machining and grinding should be performed before heat treatment to preserve dimensional accuracy. Air hardening requires proper temperature control in a heat-treat furnace — follow AISI A2 heat treatment guidelines and applicable shop safety procedures. Always wear appropriate PPE when cutting, grinding, or handling sharp-edged steel stock. Consult a qualified heat treater for hardening and tempering if the work is outside in-house capability.