Tool Steel
Tool steel bar is, as the name suggests, often used to produce tools (among other applications). Tool steel is known for its extreme hardness, as well as its abrasion resistance and ability to hold a cutting edge at high temps. Industrial Metal Supply offers tool steel bar in O-1 and A-2 grades. Note that not all sizes and alloys are stocked in every IMS location, but we can get it to you in any case.
Tool steel is used for just that, the making of tools mostly. It is well suited for this use because of its distinctive hardness, resistance to abrasion and its ability to hold a cutting edge at high temperatures. At Industrial Metal Supply we stock both O-1 and A-2 tool steels. O-1 is an oil-hardening steel and is a very good cold work steel mainly used for items like knives and forks. A-2 is commonly known as an air hardening steel and has good machinability along with a balance of wear resistance and toughness. A-2 is the most commonly used variety of air-hardening steel and is often used for blanking and forming punches, trimming dies and injection mold dies.
Tool steel is used for just that, the making of tools mostly. It is well suited for this use because of its distinctive hardness, resistance to abrasion and its ability to hold a cutting edge at high temperatures. At Industrial Metal Supply we stock both O-1 and A-2 tool steels. O-1 is an oil-hardening steel and is a very good cold work steel mainly used for items like knives and forks. A-2 is commonly known as an air hardening steel and has good machinability along with a balance of wear resistance and toughness. A-2 is the most commonly used variety of air-hardening steel and is often used for blanking and forming punches, trimming dies and injection mold dies.
