Bend this wire and it will stay in place. This nickel-chromium, often called Chromel C, provides effortless formability. Use it for heating elements, resistance windings, and hot-wire cutters.

The most formable brass alloy we offer. With its high copper content and little to no lead, 260 is so soft you can bend it at room temperature. It's often shaped into ammunition casings, radiator components, and decorative door hardware. Also known as cartridge brass.

Ready for turning in your lathe, these rods are precision ground and held to strict diameter and straightness tolerances. Also known as drill rod. With far less alloy content than other tool steel, W1 is the most machinable we offer. These rods are often used to make hammers, files, and reamers—tools that don't require the dimensional stability of A2 or O1. These rods are also decarb-free, which means any surface flaws created during the manufacturing process have been removed. This makes them even more machinable and leads to better results from heat treating or finishing. Heat treat the surface for extra wear resistance. Or, quench this steel in water to boost its hardness and strength, giving it a sharper, more durable edge for small tools.

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.