Determine if stainless steel is the right material for you and which types will work best.
About Tool Steel
More
Hardened High-Speed M42 Tool Steel

- Yield Strength: Not Rated
- Hardness: Rockwell C65 (Very Hard)
Also known as cobalt steel, this M42 tool steel maintains its hardness in high-speed cutting applications that generate intense heat. Use it to make tools for cutting extremely hard materials.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Lg. | Mechanical Finish | Each | |
9/32" | -0.0002" to 0" | 4 1/4" | Precision Ground | 0000000 | 000000 |
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. They’re also known as drill rod. A2 tool steel is more wear resistant than O1 and it keeps a sharper cutting edge. This air-hardening material is widely used for punches, broaches, and dies.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
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: See Table
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
Tight-Tolerance Easy-to-Machine 303 Stainless Steel
This material has tighter tolerances than standard 303 stainless steel. Widely used for fabricating fittings and fasteners, 303 stainless steel machines quickly without sticking to cutting tools. It maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 1500° F.
Rods are precision ground and held to a strict straightness tolerance, so they are ready for turning in a lathe.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.

- Yield Strength: 35,000 psi
- Hardness: See Table
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met: ASTM A582, SAE AMS5640
Ultra-Machinable 360 Brass Rods and Discs

- Yield Strength:
Inch sizes: 15,000 psi
Metric sizes: 23,000 psi - Hardness: See table
- Temper:
Inch sizes: H02 (1/2 Hard)
Metric sizes: 1/2 Hard - Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met:
Inch sizes: ASTM B16
Metric sizes: European Standard EN 12164
With the highest lead content of all the brass alloys, 360 offers the best machinability. Often called free-machining and free-cutting brass, it stands up to high-speed drilling, milling, and tapping operations with minimal wear on your tools. It’s commonly used for gears, pinions, and lock components.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Ultra-Hard C2 Tungsten Carbide Rods
- Yield Strength: Not Rated
- Hardness: Rockwell C80 (Very Hard)
- Temper Rating: Not Rated
Tungsten carbide, sometimes called carbide, is harder than Corrosion-Resistant Tungsten with excellent wear resistance. Use it to machine long-lasting tools, such as end mills and inserts.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.

Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Lg. | Lg. Tolerance | Mechanical Finish | Each | |
9/32" | -0.0003" to 0" | 3 1/2" | -0.06" to 0.06" | Precision Ground | 00000000 | 000000 |