Tight-Tolerance Easy-to-Machine W1 Tool Steel Rods

- Yield Strength: 50,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B95 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C65
- Fabrication: Hot Rolled
- Specifications Met: ASTM A686
Made with lower amounts of alloy elements than other tool steels, these W1 rods are highly machinable. Also called drill rods, they are precision ground and held to strict diameter and straightness tolerances. They’re ready to be turned on a lathe. These rods are decarb-free, which means any surface flaws created during the manufacturing process have been removed. This makes them more machinable and leads to better results from heat treating or finishing. You can harden the surface with heat treating for added wear resistance or water harden for added strength. These rods are often used to make hammers, files, and reamers. All have been manufactured to meet ASTM A686 standards for quality and performance.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Tight-Tolerance Multipurpose Oil-Hardening O1 Tool Steel Rods

- Yield Strength: 50,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B90 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Maximum Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C65
- Fabrication: Hot Rolled
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
Ready for turning in a lathe, these rods are precision ground to a tight diameter tolerance. They’re also known as drill rod. Often used for dies, punches, and gauges, O1 tool steel is an oil-hardening material that resists wear and abrasion. It can also be surface hardened with heat treating for added wear resistance. These rods have been manufactured to meet ASTM A681 standards for performance and quality.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Heat Treatment | Mechanical Finish | 2 ft. Lg. | |
0.5" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 000000 | |
0.5625" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 000000 | |
0.625" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 000000 | |
0.75" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 0000000 | |
0.875" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 0000000 | |
1" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 0000000 | |
1.125" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 0000000 | |
1.25" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 00000000 | |
1.5" | -0.001" to 0.001" | Annealed (Softened) | Precision Ground | 00000000 |
Tight-Tolerance Multipurpose Air-Hardening A2 Tool Steel Rods

Precision ground and held to a strict straightness tolerance, these rods are ready for turning in your lathe. Also known as drill rod, this A2 tool steel is more wear resistant than O1 and keeps a sharper cutting edge. It’s air-hardening, so it doesn’t require baths or quenching after heat treatment. This tool steel is often used for punches, blades, and hammers. These rods have been manufactured to ASTM A681 standards for performance and quality.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: See Table
- Hardness: See Table
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C62
- Fabrication: Hot Rolled
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Yield Strength | Heat Treatment | Hardness | Mechanical Finish | Straightness Tolerance | 2 ft. Lg. | |
3/8" | -0.0005" to 0.0005" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 00000000 | |
7/16" | -0.0005" to 0.0005" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 00000000 | |
1/2" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
9/16" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
5/8" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
3/4" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
7/8" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
1" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B96 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
1 1/8" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B96 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
1 1/4" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B96 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
1 3/8" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B96 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
1 1/2" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B96 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | |
2" | -0.001" to 0.001" | 55,000 psi | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B96 | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 |
- Yield Strength: 55,000 psi
- Hardness: See table
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C62
- Fabrication: Hot Rolled
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
Dia., mm | Dia. Tolerance, mm | Heat Treatment | Hardness | Mechanical Finish | Straightness Tolerance | 2 ft. Lg. | |
6 | -0.0127 to 0.0127 | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B104 | Precision Ground | 0.0125" per ft. | 0000000 | |
8 | -0.0127 to 0.0127 | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.0125" per ft. | 0000000 | |
10 | -0.0127 to 0.0127 | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.0125" per ft. | 0000000 | |
12 | -0.0127 to 0.0127 | Annealed (Softened) | Rockwell B101 | Precision Ground | 0.0125" per ft. | 0000000 |
Oversized Multipurpose Air-Hardening A2 Tool Steel Rods and Discs

- Yield Strength: 55,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B95 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C64
- Fabrication: See table
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
With an oversized diameter, these rods and discs let you finish to your exact requirements. Made of A2 steel, they are more wear resistant than O1 rods and discs. They also keep a sharper cutting edge. When heat treated for added wear resistance, they don’t require baths or quenching and can be air-hardened. A2 tool steel is widely used for punches, blades, and hammers. These rods and discs are decarb-free, which means any surface flaws created during the manufacturing process have been removed. This makes them more machinable and leads to better results from heat treating or finishing. All have been manufactured to meet ASTM A681 standards for quality and performance.
If you don't see the size you're looking for, please specify a length under additional rod lengths.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Fabrication | Mechanical Finish | Straightness Tolerance | 2 ft. Lg. | |
1/2" | 0.01" to 0.032" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
5/8" | 0.01" to 0.032" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
3/4" | 0.01" to 0.032" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
1" | 0.01" to 0.041" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
1 1/8" | 0.01" to 0.041" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
1 1/4" | 0.01" to 0.041" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
1 1/2" | 0.015" to 0.041" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
1 3/4" | 0.015" to 0.041" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 | |
2 1/2" | 0.015" to 0.051" | Hot Rolled | Turned | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 00000000 |
Oversized High-Temperature H13 Tool Steel Bars

- Yield Strength: 52,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B95 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C53
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
Also known as flat stock, these precision-ground bars have an oversized thickness, length, and width for finishing to your exact requirements. Able to maintain good strength and wear resistance in high temperatures, H13 tool steel also resists cracking from repeated heating and cooling cycles. It's an air-hardening material that's widely used in die-casting applications. These bars are decarb-free for a uniform surface that will consistently accept heat treating.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
2 ft. Lg. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Wd. | Mechanical Finish | Flatness Tolerance | Each | |
1/4" Thick. (0.01" to 0.015" Tolerance) | ||||
1" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 0000000 |
2" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
3" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
4" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
1/2" Thick. (0.01" to 0.015" Tolerance) | ||||
1" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
2" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
3" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
4" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
3/4" Thick. (0.01" to 0.015" Tolerance) | ||||
1" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
2" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
3" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
1" Thick. (0.01" to 0.015" Tolerance) | ||||
1" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
2" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
3" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |
4" | Precision Ground | 0.005" per ft. | 0000000 | 000000 |