Ground Flat Stock

[VicParticipant @vic]

[VicParticipant @vic]

Does anyone know where I can buy square section GFS at a reasonable cost? It used to be fairly common from the usual suspects like Buck and Hickman, RS etc but they don't seem to stock it anymore. I'm after some 1/2" or 12/13mm square. I did find one supplier online but £37 + vat + postage for 18" is taking the mickey!

As a point of interest are there any other tough but machineable steels that have a fairly good bright finish I could look at as an alternative? Stainless may be an option. I'm looking at making a few wood turning tools with carbide inserts.

Thanks in advance.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Vic,

Try M-Machine in Darlington, they also do mail order. I think you will find them more compettive.

www.m–machine-metals.co.uk

Regards

Brian

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Try FWB or Cromwell tools – look for key steel.

You might also find key steel on E-Bay, sellers seem to have it come available in odd lots when they do a clear out of factories or workshops

Edited By Keith Long on 02/08/2015 10:57:49

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Could you use a square keysteel?

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

I use a supllier in sheffield that stocks square ground indeed grinds it on the premises but they also stock key steel thats fine for woodworking tool stocks

I would imagine £10 would buy you 3 metres of 12mm square

Ian

where are you ? i could put some in the post from my stocks

[VicParticipant @vic]

I did a quick search for key steel but couldn't find anything over about 1/4" but some websites are a bit tedious to find stuff and don't "search" well. Cromwell is one such site.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Postage is always a problem with steel but luckily I have a local guy for mild. I'm in the bottom end of Dorset, so no where near where most steel supplies are located.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Bottom of Dorset. .?
Any where near DT6?

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Macc models….

https://maccmodels.co.uk/materials-metal/gauge-plate-ground-stock/1-2-x-1-2-ground-stock-gauge-plate-18-long.html

Just another satisfied …….,

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Just a point here GFS is basically flat or square silver steel or very close to it with the result it can be hardened and tempered.

Key steel which is EN 5 / 6 is a low to medium carbon steel which cannot be hardened and tempered like GFS.

One of the 'closest' commercial steels hence cheaper to GFS and silver steel is EN8

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I just searched for guage plate and these people came up who have just opened a mail order shop

**LINK**

John

–

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by jason udall on 02/08/2015 17:50:14:
Bottom of Dorset. .?
Any where near DT6?

Sadly not. Have they finished the roadworks in Bridport yet?

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Posted by John W1 on 02/08/2015 20:22:12:

I just searched for guage plate and these people came up who have just opened a mail order shop

**LINK**

John

–

Hmm. Just North ish of Ripon ..not too far from me…,

Ill bookmark them for future..

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Vic.if you mean on the A35 near crown roundabout. ..sort of..but every accident on the A35 blocks it axminster to dorchester. .

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

hi vic,

i have a long length of i think 1/2" hex tool steel that can be hardened and tempered like silver steel if any good? ive used it to make the odd punch and die etc over the years.

cheers,

julian

[ken king, King DesignParticipant @kenkingkingdesign]

Hello Vic, you might like to try Sheffield Gauge Plate at http://www.ground-flat-stock.co.uk They're gauge plate specialists and I've found them most helpful. Every size and reasonably priced too.

Ken.

[Dinosaur EngineerParticipant @dinosaurengineer]

Posted by John W1 on 02/08/2015 20:22:12:

I just searched for guage plate and these people came up who have just opened a mail order shop

**LINK**

John

I notice that this steel in this link is oil hardening

–

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Vic,

I make quite a few of my own woodturning tools and BMS square will do the job just fine although stainless would be nice too if you intend turning a lot of wet oak perhaps.

It just needs to take a thread if you're using inserts – no need for exotics IMHO.

Jon

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Just what I was thinking, I have made quite a number of holders for inserts and have always just used mild steel which works just fine. Sometimes I case harden the end where the insert pocket is but even that is probably not really needed, but it is fun to do. If case hardening I fill the threaded hole for the insert screw with fine chalk powder to prevent the thread from being hardened and thus possibly too brittle.

Doug

[VicParticipant @vic]

Thanks for all the comments guys, most helpful.

The problem with steel is that as you've noticed its heavy stuff so postage makes it more expensive than it needs to be. I'm trying for a more local supplier but maybe some square stainless might do the job just as well. Thanks again.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Dinosaur Engineer on 03/08/2015 02:25:17:

Posted by John W1 on 02/08/2015 20:22:12:

I just searched for guage plate and these people came up who have just opened a mail order shop

**LINK**

John

I notice that this steel in this link is oil hardening

–

Yep but I'd still use water as chances are the size of the container I would use wouldn't allow the water to work as effectively as it can – which needs a rather large container.

John

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[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Going partially off topic the way I understand it is the faster the quench the more Martensite is produced respective to Austenite and Pearlite. Water quenches quicker than oil because the layer adjacent to the steel is flashed into steam and the energy required for the phase change cools the steel quickly. With proper agitation the bubbles that form are shaken off and the process repeats until the steel is fully quenched. Adding salt reduces the size of the bubbles that form before they break off which makes Brine a faster quench than plain water. Both water and brine are corrosive to hot steel which for tool production is undesireable. Oil has a higher boiling point than water so bubbles do not form and there is no phase change. Oil cools steel slower than water. Oil hardenable steels have been developed for just this reason. The requirements for the oil should logically then be high boiling point, no nasty additives and relatively clean. I would suggest lower viscosity would work better than thick stuff but that's just intuitive on my part.

I would add that this is just my basic understanding and would welcome any comments that elaborate on this as it's quite interesting.

regards Martin

[David HaleyParticipant @davidhaley39295]

Posted by John W1 on 02/08/2015 20:22:12:

I just searched for guage plate and these people came up who have just opened a mail order shop

**LINK**

John

–

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for finding your way to our webshop! If there is anything you need but can't find on the web-shop feel free to get in touch as we do keep more dimensions in stock that are not sold through the web-shop. We are also in the next week adding a few more products in the stock range. One is D2 in 'oversize' ground flat stock and the second is a stainless grade called Niolox (Simular to 440C stainless). If you need any more info please feel free to ask a question or drop me an email at sales@groundflatstock.com

Thanks

David

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

True confession. I harden small gauge plate cutters in a Golden Syrup tin of rapeseed oil. The oils is now thicker than the golden syrup was, but liquefies rapidly when a hot item is dropped in. Also used for blacking small items. The smoke stinks, but the lid is handy if.when it catches fire

Neil

[Author]

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