Starrett 57506 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 3/32x4x18 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 57506 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar intended for toolmakers, machinists, and die makers who require consistent pre-hardened stock for tooling, jigs, fixtures, and cutting tools. This piece measures 3/32 inch thick, 4 inches wide, and 18 inches long, with a weight of 1.92 pounds. It is manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances — plus or minus 0.001 inch on thickness and square, plus 0.000 to 0.005 inch on width, and plus 0.250 inch on length — making it suitable for precision layout and fabrication work where stock dimensions must be reliable before heat treatment.

A2 tool steel is a general-purpose air-hardening cold-work steel used across a broad range of tooling applications including blanking dies, punches, gauges, form tools, and trim dies. This flat stock format is commonly used in tool-and-die shops, maintenance shops, and machine shops for fabricating custom tooling components. Its air-hardening characteristic minimizes distortion during heat treatment, which is a key advantage when holding tight finished tolerances on complex tool geometries.

Key Features

• AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel — reduced distortion on heat treatment compared to oil-hardening grades
• Tight thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inch for reliable pre-machining stock allowance
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to 0.005 inch supports close-fit layout work
• Square tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inch ensures perpendicularity straight from stock
• Flat stock form factor ready for sawing, milling, grinding, or EDM operations

Compatibility

Designed as a standard A2 tool steel flat stock for use in tool-and-die, machining, and fabrication applications requiring AISI A2 cold-work air-hardening material in flat bar form.

Installation Notes

Machining and heat treatment of A2 tool steel should be performed by qualified tool-and-die makers or machinists familiar with cold-work tool steel processing. Always follow established shop safety procedures when cutting, grinding, or heat-treating tool steel stock, including appropriate PPE and ventilation. Heat treatment should follow the material specification for A2 steel with respect to austenitizing temperature, soak time, and air-cool procedure — consult the material data sheet for the applicable thermal process parameters.