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TOOL STEEL FEATURES

Characterized by their durability, hardness, price, and ability to withstand shock without deforming,
tool steels are used to cut, press, extrude, or stamp other metals. After being worked, they may be
hardened to increase wear resistance and strength. Grades are specified by the American Iron and
Steel Institute (AISI), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), or the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM). For more information, see Tool Steel Comparison on page 105.

Design Co nside rations

HEAT TREATING DURABIL ITY COMPARATIVE COST

W1 O1 A2

¢ ¢¢ ¢¢¢
After machining, steel is heat resistance to deformation a t low cost Water-hardening tool
treated and quenched, depending ele vated temperatures steel is used more of ten than oil-
on the type of steel used, to (also known as red-hardness) or air-hardening tool steels
increase toughness and strength

Tool Steel Grades

Tool steels are defined by their dimensional stability, wear resistance, toughness, hot hardness, and machinability. Severe
conditions – high temperatures, heavy loads, or corrosive environments – require higher alloy and carbon contents.

Cold Work Steels
Frequently used for making cold working
tools for applications under 200ºC (392ºF).
Higher amounts of chromium reduce
distortion during heat treatment. Feature
high hardenability, high toughness, and
high abrasion, impact, and wear resistances.
A2 -A 10, Air - Hardening
Medium alloy composition with 1% – 6%
carbon and up to 5% chromium. Has the
least tendency to crack during hardening.
Considered a mid-range grade between oil-
hardening and shock resistant grades. Do
not quench in oil or water.
O 1- O 7, Oil - Hardening
A low alloy/high carbon (0.85% – 1.55%)
steel with manganese, chromium, and
molybdenum. Quenched in oil to produce
high wear resistance and hardness between
HRC 56-62.
D2 - D7, High Carbon, High Chromium
Contain 1.4% – 2.3% carbon and 12% –
14% chromium along with molybdenum,
cobalt, and vanadium. Often thought of
as stainless or semi-stainless, but corrosion
resistance is limited due to high chromium
and carbon. Wear resistant, but not as
tough as low alloy steels.
Hot Work Steels
Feature high hot yield strength, toughness,
high red-hardness, wear resistance, erosion
resistance, and resistance to softening in
temperatures up to 675°C (1,247ºF).
H1 - H19
Medium carbon content with 5% chromium.
Can be through hardened to HRC 40-55
with little distortion. Requires oil quenching.
H20 - H26
Low carbon content with 9% – 18%
tungsten and 3% – 4% chromium. Extra
resistant to softening, more prone to
brittleness, working hardness to HRC 45-55.
To minimize scaling, quench in oil or salt.
H41 - H43
Low carbon content with 8% molybdenum
along with chromium, tungsten, and
vanadium.
Water - Hardening Steels
W1 - W3
Most common. These general purpose, low-
cost, medium to high carbon (0.60% – 1.3%)
steels are easily machined, or formed. They
can be case hardened by heat treating up to
HRC 68. Overall, they are more brittle and
more susceptible to cracking or warping
than other steels. Best suited for small parts
and working conditions up to 150ºC (302ºF).
High-Speed Steels (HSS)
Designed for high speed metal cutting
and machining operations. Features
hardenability to HRC 60-70, high heat
resistance for red-hardness up to 500ºC
(932ºF) enables sharpening without
damaging material, and reasonable
toughness.
M1 - M47
Contain molybdenum as a primary alloying
element that increases resistance to
softening at elevated temperatures.
Shock-Resistant Steels
S1 - S7
Contain medium carbon content from
0.40 – 0.55%, 1% – 2% silicon, or up to
3% nickel. As their name suggests, they
have good wear/abrasion resistance and
resist shock at low to medium temperatures,
with high strength and toughness. Can
achieve HRC 58-60.

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
98 *Limited warranty for surface finish: 30 days from date of shipment. See page 12 for details.
 HUYETT.COM • 785-392-3017

TOOL STEEL TYPES

Ground Stock Drill Rod
De fin iti on s
Ground stock is rectangular or square steel Drill rod is round unhardened tool Ha rd nes s
that has been ground to close tolerances steel which is precision ground to tight The measure of how resistan
t
for use in a wide range of industries. Once tolerances. After machining, it may be steel is to various kinds of
shaped, ground stock may be heat treated hardened by heat treating, then drawn permanent deformation
when a
to harden. back to the desired hardness. force is applied.
str eng th
A measure of steel's elastic
range,
where it will return to its
original
shape when gradual forc
e is
removed.
Tou gh nes s
The maximum amount of
energy
or impact force that can
be
absorbed before fracturing.

Page 100 Page 102

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Common Applicable Fabrication How to Common Comments
Names Standards Identify Uses

Tool Steel; AISI/SAE A2; Cold drawn, Tight tolerances Depending Ground stock
Ground Flat AISI/SAE D2; annealed bar stock and ground surface on grade, is free from
Ground
Stock

Stock; Flat Bar AISI/SAE O2; that is subsequently finish. Durable ground stock decarburization.
Stock; Flat AISI/SAE W2 ground to remove and resistant to can be used as
Stock; Gauge all traces of abrasion. dies, punches,
Plate decarburization and templates, and
achieve precision stripper plates.
height and width.

Drill Rod AISI/SAE A2; Cold drawn, Tight tolerances Drill rod, Drill rod is
AISI/SAE D2; annealed round stock and ground surface depending on free from
Drill

AISI/SAE O2; that is ground and finish. Durable grade, is used to decarburization.
Rod

AISI/SAE H13; polished to achieve and resistant to make tools like

AISI/SAE W2 exacting size with no abrasion. drill bits, taps,
decarburization left dowel pins, and
on the bars. hammers.

mild steel vs. hardened steel

Hardened steel is much more difficult to work or

machine. Mild steel can generally be machined using
high-speed steel (HSS) or cobalt tools. Both mild steel
and hardened steel can be called “ground” as this refers
to a method used to shape steel, not the material or the
tempering process.

Have a piece of steel and are unsure if it has been Mild steel can be filed A file will tend to skid
hardened or not? Here's an easy way to find out: fairly easily and leaves along the surface of
a visible relief hardened steel

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
*Limited warranty for surface finish: 30 days from date of shipment. See page 12 for details. 99