I think you'd be asking the steel manufacturers for that!

It's feasible you'd be able (even afford!) to buy a billet of some other steel that would perform as required, but "tool steel" in that size is likely to be an intermediate not yet cut to tool-making sizes.

Tool-steel rounds are made to hefty diameters, but nowadays very big twist-drills, milling-cutters and the like use carbide inserts for the cutting parts, on a high-tensile "chassis".

It might be better to assess and quote what specific alloy you really need for the task, and whether it would be more sensible to design it so the "tool steel" is a small component on a larger supporting piece.

Suggest contacting a supplier of blocks for injection moulds and die casting dies. They sell blocks from 100 x 130 x 17 mm all the way up to several metres by several metres and a metre or more thick.

http://www.hasco.com are excellent and have a wide global dealer / distributor network. These top quality tool steel blocks are available worldwide in several grades and hardnesses but be warned – this is not cheap mild steel we're talking about – be prepared to pay accordingly for very good tool steel.

For plain undrilled blocks and rounds see the P section of the catalogue at https://www.hasco.com/en/Product-catalogue/P/c/PIM02 (drilled-for-moulds plates and rounds are in K section.)

Your question is not in a form to which anyone can make a sensible, precise or informed answer.

There are dozens of steel alloys that are classed as tool steel all with various properties and also supplied as standard in many different states. So even if we could pin down the specifcation of your block, the way it may have been supplied is still open ended.

Cut off a bit and try to work it. If it meets your requirements, great. If not, weigh it in for scrap.

Cut off a bit and send it off to a lab for analysis. You can then correlate the lab. report with published specs. to narrow it down considerably. Then you will have spent money and still not know if it is easy for you to work with the tools you have. Maybe you have a 5-axis waterjet in the shed (currently switched off due to the hosepipe ban). Whatever the steel is, it will be easily worked on the waterjet.

All things are obtainable. It is just a matter of $$$$$$$$$$. "Tool steel" comes in blocks big enough to make a die to stamp out a car roof if you want. But even a little bit like you are after is not going to be cheap as a one-off purchase. Is there any alternative for your application? Are you making a die or mould for production use?

Hopper, the OP has a piece of that size, just wants to know how to work it.

As others have inferred "how long is a piece of string". As someone else who spent many years working tool steels of various grades it's unknown quantity makes for little use save a decent base plate or 'anvil' for use on the bench. I have such a lump – wouldn't even consider trying to cut anything off it to machine but it comes in handy at times as suggested.

As far as basic model engineering goes Silver Steel and Gauge Plate are all the home user needs when through hardening materials are required.

All the tool steels I have machined have been tough-er to do so, some more than others and consequently are difficult to machine compared to basic mild and low carbon steel. Other than carbide face mills that was all done using HSS cutters – at the time carbide end mills were some way off. Obviously cutters wear quicker so personally I only use tool steel when it is actually required for the job – mainly home made small cutters.

The result of heat treament of an unknown material is another matter of course.

Best – Tug

Ah, I missed the second post and took the first at face value.

But agree that the description "tool steel" could mean almost anything thing. Generally, it was traditionally supplied unhardened but could be as tough as billy-o to machine on a light machine even so. Should make a good anvil/bench block though.

Stating the painfully obvious, whatever tool is used to machine / cut the workpiece must be the harder of the two, or the workpiece will cut the tool.

Angle grinder, Surface or Cylindrical grinder, Carbide tooling.?

The difficulty would be centre drilling, although a carbide centre drill would probably do the job.

Howard

Used to use various forms of tool steel for different uses. Most came from Carrs here in the UK. They were always helpful in choosing the correct steel and heat treatment for the particular application. All of this was for cutting tools and fixture components. As has been said that size would probably be a die making steel rather than one for cutting tools.

Have a look at P20 tool steel. It was the most used tool steel I used in toolmaking for plastic and press tool blanks and bodies.

David

You really need to what the steel is to harden it successfully.

A bit more constructive than at least one of the replies………….

Jim