What is drill rod?
Drill rod is round bar stock precision ground and polished to tight tolerances. Drill rod is considered unhardened, or soft, in its raw state allowing for easier machining. After machining, drill rod may be heat‑treated, then drawn back to the desired hardness.
What is drill rod used for?
Drill rod is unhardened, precision ground, round bar used in a variety of industries including manufacturing and construction. It is often used in the manufacture of dies, punches, drills, gauges, pins, and other machine parts that require high strength and durability. It is also ideal for use in power drive shafts and other precision applications.
Where to buy drill rod steel:
Huyett offers steel drill rod stock in a variety of lengths and diameters and can be custom cut specific to your needs. Our steel drill rod is ground and polished to precise tolerances. If you don't see what you are looking for, contact our friendly and experienced Sales team today!
How hard is drill rod?
Drill rod is made of annealed tool steel with a Rockwell hardness ranging from 96 to 110 rb. It is typically soft enough that it can be easily machined, although it is hard enough to use in some applications without heat treatment. If you require hardened steel for use in tools, drill rod can be appropriately hardened through heating, quenching, and tempering.
Can you weld drill rod?
Yes, drill rod can easily be welded. However, proper welding practices should be followed as heat from the welding process will cause hardening.
Does drill rod come heat treated?
Drill rod stock is typically supplied without being heat treatment, or unhardened, so that it is easy to machine. Once the metal is machined into its tool form, it can be hardened through heat treatment and then drawn back. Drill rod may become work hardened due to heat generated by the machining process, but it can be annealed to a softer state if required.
How do you harden drill rod?
Drill rod is hardened through heating. The machined part is heated and then quenched in water or oil until it cools. After quenching, tool steel is brittle and should be tempered through mild heating and quenching to draw back the hardness.
How to cut drill rod:
Drill rod is soft enough to be machined easily and cut with tools made of high-speed steel or abrasive wheels, although care should be taken not to overheat and harden the steel during cutting.
How to temper drill rod:
Drill rod is tempered by heating it to its low critical point. The drill rod is then quenched in water, oil, or air.
Is drill rod 4140?
Drill rod is not 4140, as this designation applies to SAE steel grades. Drill rod is tool steel, which is referenced by the following grades, per AISI standards: W‑1, O‑1, A‑2, S‑7, D‑2, M‑2, and H‑13. Certain grades of tool steel have similar alloy properties to 4140, but not all tool steel is 4140.
Is drill rod a specialty metal?
Drill rod grades O‑1, A‑2, S‑7, D‑2, M‑2, and H‑13 are considered specialty metals as defined by DFARS 252.225‑7008.
Flat Stock
Where to buy flat bar:
Flat bar, or flat stock, can be purchased online or by phone from Huyett! Our flat stock is available in a variety of lengths and can be custom cut to your specifications. If you don't find what you need, contact our friendly and experienced Sales Team today!
What is flat bar stock?
Flat bar stock, or ground stock, refers to rectangular or square steel bar that can be manufactured with Blanchard or Mattison finishes. Once shaped, ground stock may be heat treated to harden. Flat stock is available in stainless steel, cold finished steel, and alloy steel to suit a variety of applications.
What is Blanchard finished flat stock?
A Blanchard finish refers to a grinding method called Blanchard grinding. Blanchard grinding is a rotary grind process that removes stock to a moderate finish accuracy. Blanchard ground flat stock possesses a specific pattern on the surface produced by the movement of the grinding tools across its surface. This method works well for large quantity runs but is less precise when compared to Mattison grinding.
What is Mattison finished flat stock?
A Mattison finish refers to a grinding method called Mattison grinding. Mattison grinding is a precision grinding process especially suited for along parts and is most often considered a finish operation. This method of grinding is ideal to achieve precise tolerances with ground flat stock, but it is often used in smaller production runs.
Is flat stock tool steel hardened?
No. Flat stock tool steel is annealed for ease of machining. After machining, flat stock tool steel can be hardened.
What is flat bar used for?
Ground flat bar, or tool steel, is found in a wide variety of industries ranging from manufacturing and constructions to agriculture and transport. It is often used for dies, punches, templates, stripper plates, gate latches, and bracing.
How to cut flat steel bar:
Flat bar can be cut using a variety of methods. For smaller products or in field work, flat steel bar can be cut using standard hand tools such as a hack saw or reciprocating saw fitted with a metal cutting blade. For larger production runs, wet saws or CNC machines are acceptable methods of cutting flat steel bar.
