Drill Rods

Drill rods are round tool steel stock used by machinists, toolmakers, and metalworking professionals to fabricate custom tools, dies, and components. This selection includes general-purpose W-1 water-hardening and O-1 oil-hardening grades in fine through larger listed diameters, providing material for cutting, machining, and hardening as required by the application.

Product Display:
Helpful Buying Guide

Choose Drill Rod for Your Toolmaking Work

Start with the hardening grade your fabrication process requires, then match the listed rod diameter and available length to the part you plan to machine. The represented products include W-1 stock for water hardening and O-1 stock for oil hardening, with options for general toolmaking, tool and die work, and detailed component fabrication.

Visual Guide

Popular examples in this category

W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/16 in.W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/16 in.WBB1338486W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/8 in.W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/8 in.WBB1338572O-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 7 mmO-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 7 mmWBB1338499O-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 2 mmO-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 2 mmWBB1338466
Use Cases

Build custom tools and components

Drill rod provides starting stock for fabricated tools, custom tooling, dies, and machined components. Fine-diameter options support detailed work, while larger listed diameters suit diameter-specific tooling requirements.

How to Choose

Match grade and diameter

Choose W-1 when water-hardening steel is required and O-1 when the work calls for oil-hardening steel. Then select the listed diameter that matches the component or tooling requirement.

Applications

Support machining and hardening workflows

W-1 rods are intended for machining before water hardening. O-1 rods support general tool and die fabrication where oil hardening and controlled dimensional change are considerations.

Additional Info

Compare wear resistance and order details

Several listed W-1 and O-1 options emphasize abrasion resistance for tooling work. Selected products list a minimum order of one each, and several listed rods provide 36 inches of stock length.

2Hardening grades

Choose from W-1 water-hardening and O-1 oil-hardening tool steel.

1/16 in.Smallest listed diameter

A fine W-1 option for projects requiring small round stock.

7/16 in.Largest listed diameter

An O-1 option for work requiring this specified rod size.

36 in.Listed stock length

Available on selected W-1 and O-1 drill rod listings.

Comparison Guide

Compare W-1 and O-1 Drill Rod Options

Use hardening grade, size, and stated performance considerations to narrow the selection for your machining or toolmaking project.

Product typeHardening and fabrication focusListed selection considerations
W-1 water-hardening drill rodDesigned for machining before water hardening.Listed in fine fractional sizes through 17/64 in. and 3/16 in.; selected options list 36 in. length and a machinability rating of 100.
O-1 oil-hardening drill rodSupports oil-hardening treatment for general tool and die fabrication.Listed in 2 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 15/64 in., 3/8 in., and 7/16 in. sizes; controlled dimensional change is noted on a 2 mm option.
Individual rod listingProvides stock for a specified tool, die, or component requirement.Compare exact diameter, listed length where applicable, abrasion-resistance emphasis, and the stated minimum order.
Planning Guide

Plan the right fit before choosing

Select the hardening grade

Choose the steel type for the intended process

The two product types represented differ by hardening grade. Both are described as general-purpose tool steel stock, but the hardening method is the central selection point.

  • Choose W-1 water-hardening drill rod for machining followed by water hardening.
  • Choose O-1 oil-hardening drill rod for general tool and die work requiring oil-hardening treatment.
  • Consider O-1 where controlled dimensional change during hardening is important.
Match the stock size

Confirm diameter and usable material length

Diameter should correspond to the size needed for the part, tool, or die being fabricated. Listed sizes include fractional-inch and metric options, ranging from 1/16 inch and 5/64 inch to 7/16 inch, plus 2 mm, 7 mm, and 8 mm choices.

  • Use small-diameter rods for detailed machining and smaller component work.
  • Select the specified diameter needed for diameter-specific tooling requirements.
  • Where listed, 36-inch length provides stock that can be cut to project requirements.
Consider machining and wear needs

Balance fabrication with the finished application

W-1 listings identify a machinability rating of 100 or high machinability, providing a stated reference before hardening. W-1 products also describe a hard, abrasion-resistant outer case with a ductile core after hardening. O-1 listings emphasize abrasion resistance and, for one 3/8-inch option, toughness.

  • Use the stated W-1 machinability reference when comparing applicable tool steels.
  • Consider abrasion resistance for tooling exposed to wear.
  • Review the individual listing for its diameter, length, and minimum-order information.
FAQ

Common questions before buying

What types of drill rod are available?

The represented selection includes W-1 water-hardening and O-1 oil-hardening tool steel drill rods.

When should I choose W-1 drill rod?

Choose W-1 when your work requires general-purpose water-hardening steel that can be machined before water hardening.

When should I choose O-1 drill rod?

Choose O-1 for general tool and die work requiring oil-hardening treatment, particularly when controlled dimensional change is a consideration.

What sizes are represented?

Listed sizes include 1/16 in., 5/64 in., 1/8 in., 3/16 in., 17/64 in., 15/64 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 2 mm, 7 mm, and 8 mm, along with one #5 listing with stated dimensions.

Helpful Buying Guide

Choose Drill Rod for Your Toolmaking Work

Start with the hardening grade your fabrication process requires, then match the listed rod diameter and available length to the part you plan to machine. The represented products include W-1 stock for water hardening and O-1 stock for oil hardening, with options for general toolmaking, tool and die work, and detailed component fabrication.

Visual Guide

Popular examples in this category

W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/16 in.W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/16 in.WBB1338486W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/8 in.W-1 Water-Hardening Drill Rod, 1/8 in.WBB1338572O-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 7 mmO-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 7 mmWBB1338499O-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 2 mmO-1 Oil-Hardening Drill Rod, 2 mmWBB1338466
Use Cases

Build custom tools and components

Drill rod provides starting stock for fabricated tools, custom tooling, dies, and machined components. Fine-diameter options support detailed work, while larger listed diameters suit diameter-specific tooling requirements.

How to Choose

Match grade and diameter

Choose W-1 when water-hardening steel is required and O-1 when the work calls for oil-hardening steel. Then select the listed diameter that matches the component or tooling requirement.

Applications

Support machining and hardening workflows

W-1 rods are intended for machining before water hardening. O-1 rods support general tool and die fabrication where oil hardening and controlled dimensional change are considerations.

Additional Info

Compare wear resistance and order details

Several listed W-1 and O-1 options emphasize abrasion resistance for tooling work. Selected products list a minimum order of one each, and several listed rods provide 36 inches of stock length.

2Hardening grades

Choose from W-1 water-hardening and O-1 oil-hardening tool steel.

1/16 in.Smallest listed diameter

A fine W-1 option for projects requiring small round stock.

7/16 in.Largest listed diameter

An O-1 option for work requiring this specified rod size.

36 in.Listed stock length

Available on selected W-1 and O-1 drill rod listings.

Comparison Guide

Compare W-1 and O-1 Drill Rod Options

Use hardening grade, size, and stated performance considerations to narrow the selection for your machining or toolmaking project.

Product typeHardening and fabrication focusListed selection considerations
W-1 water-hardening drill rodDesigned for machining before water hardening.Listed in fine fractional sizes through 17/64 in. and 3/16 in.; selected options list 36 in. length and a machinability rating of 100.
O-1 oil-hardening drill rodSupports oil-hardening treatment for general tool and die fabrication.Listed in 2 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 15/64 in., 3/8 in., and 7/16 in. sizes; controlled dimensional change is noted on a 2 mm option.
Individual rod listingProvides stock for a specified tool, die, or component requirement.Compare exact diameter, listed length where applicable, abrasion-resistance emphasis, and the stated minimum order.
Planning Guide

Plan the right fit before choosing

Select the hardening grade

Choose the steel type for the intended process

The two product types represented differ by hardening grade. Both are described as general-purpose tool steel stock, but the hardening method is the central selection point.

  • Choose W-1 water-hardening drill rod for machining followed by water hardening.
  • Choose O-1 oil-hardening drill rod for general tool and die work requiring oil-hardening treatment.
  • Consider O-1 where controlled dimensional change during hardening is important.
Match the stock size

Confirm diameter and usable material length

Diameter should correspond to the size needed for the part, tool, or die being fabricated. Listed sizes include fractional-inch and metric options, ranging from 1/16 inch and 5/64 inch to 7/16 inch, plus 2 mm, 7 mm, and 8 mm choices.

  • Use small-diameter rods for detailed machining and smaller component work.
  • Select the specified diameter needed for diameter-specific tooling requirements.
  • Where listed, 36-inch length provides stock that can be cut to project requirements.
Consider machining and wear needs

Balance fabrication with the finished application

W-1 listings identify a machinability rating of 100 or high machinability, providing a stated reference before hardening. W-1 products also describe a hard, abrasion-resistant outer case with a ductile core after hardening. O-1 listings emphasize abrasion resistance and, for one 3/8-inch option, toughness.

  • Use the stated W-1 machinability reference when comparing applicable tool steels.
  • Consider abrasion resistance for tooling exposed to wear.
  • Review the individual listing for its diameter, length, and minimum-order information.
FAQ

Common questions before buying

What types of drill rod are available?

The represented selection includes W-1 water-hardening and O-1 oil-hardening tool steel drill rods.

When should I choose W-1 drill rod?

Choose W-1 when your work requires general-purpose water-hardening steel that can be machined before water hardening.

When should I choose O-1 drill rod?

Choose O-1 for general tool and die work requiring oil-hardening treatment, particularly when controlled dimensional change is a consideration.

What sizes are represented?

Listed sizes include 1/16 in., 5/64 in., 1/8 in., 3/16 in., 17/64 in., 15/64 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 2 mm, 7 mm, and 8 mm, along with one #5 listing with stated dimensions.

!