Erasteel Silver Steel Range — Quick Reference
Erasteel is the specialist steel manufacturer known for high-speed + tool steels for precision machining + toolmaking. AIMS stocks Erasteel SILVER STEEL round bar — high-carbon steel prized for CLOSE DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCES + SMOOTH GROUND FINISH + excellent hardenability.
| Erasteel Product | Best For | Common Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Steel Round Bar (Metric) | Toolroom + punches + pins + shafts + drift work | 1-25mm pre-ground rod |
| Silver Steel Round Bar (Imperial) | US-spec toolroom work | 1/16" - 1" pre-ground rod |
| 1m / 333mm / 500mm Lengths | Workshop standard cutting lengths | Standard inventory |
| Ground Finish | Pre-ground tolerance — workshop use without further grinding | ±0.013mm tolerance typical |
| W1 / 0.95% Carbon Grade | High carbon — hardenable to Rc 60+ after heat treat | Standard silver steel grade |
Why silver steel: Pre-ground tolerance saves workshop grinding step. High carbon content (~0.95% C + traces of W + Cr) allows full hardening + tempering for tools + pins. Bright + smooth surface accepts heat treat without scale issues. Heat treatment: harden to 760-790°C + quench in water → Rc 62+; temper to 200-250°C → Rc 60 + reduced brittleness. Critical: rapid cooling from quench = potential cracking; heat slowly + evenly. Brand: Erasteel. Companion: raw materials, tool steels, key steel.
Erasteel Silver Steel at AIMS Industrial
Erasteel is a specialist steel manufacturer known for high-speed and tool steels used in precision machining and toolmaking. AIMS Industrial stocks Erasteel silver steel round bar — a high-carbon steel prized for its close dimensional tolerances, smooth ground finish and excellent hardenability.
Erasteel Silver Steel at AIMS
Silver steel (also known as ground flat stock or precision ground round) is available in both metric and imperial sizes. The Erasteel silver steel supplied through AIMS is water hardened — meaning it responds to water quenching during heat treatment to achieve a hard, wear-resistant surface suitable for cutting tools, punches, gauges and precision components.
Toolmaking and Precision Applications
Silver steel's tight dimensional tolerance (ground to close limits) makes it a first choice when you need stock that's ready to work with minimal preparation. It's widely used for:
- Punches, reamers and mandrels
- Gauges and measuring tools
- Small shafts and spindles requiring hardening
- Die and toolmaking applications
For assistance selecting the right diameter or grade of tool steel for your application, contact our team. AIMS Industrial has been supplying Australian engineers and toolmakers since 1988.
People Also Ask — Erasteel
Q: What makes silver steel suitable for punches, gauges, and precision tooling?
Silver steel is water-hardened, high-carbon steel supplied with a tight, ground dimensional tolerance, meaning it's ready to work with minimal preparation and responds well to water quenching to achieve a hard, wear-resistant surface. This combination of close tolerance and hardenability makes it a first choice for punches, reamers, mandrels, gauges, measuring tools, and small shafts and spindles requiring hardening.
Q: What is the carbon content of Erasteel silver steel and why does it matter?
Erasteel silver steel is a W1 grade with approximately 0.95% carbon content, with traces of tungsten and chromium. This high carbon content allows the steel to be fully hardened and tempered for tool and pin applications, reaching Rc 60+ after correct heat treatment.
Q: What heat treatment does Erasteel silver steel require?
Harden by heating to 760-790°C and quenching in water, which achieves Rc 62+; then temper at 200-250°C to bring it to Rc 60 with reduced brittleness. Rapid cooling straight from the quench can cause cracking, so the steel must be heated slowly and evenly rather than rushed through the process.
Q: What dimensional tolerance does silver steel round bar come in?
Erasteel silver steel is supplied as pre-ground rod to a typical tolerance of around ±0.013mm, in both metric sizes (1-25mm) and imperial sizes (1/16" to 1"), commonly in 1m, 333mm, or 500mm standard workshop cutting lengths.
Q: Why choose silver steel over an unground bar for toolroom work?
The bright, smooth pre-ground surface of silver steel accepts heat treatment without scale issues and saves the workshop grinding step that unground bar would require. This is why it's also known as ground flat stock or precision ground round, and why it's specified for die and toolmaking applications where the stock needs to be close to finished dimension straight off the shelf.