Flat Bar Solid Metal Strip -HSS- High Speed Steel 1 mm X 200mm 300mm Metal Plate

High speed steel (HSS) contains alloying elements — primarily tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, and vanadium — that allow it to retain hardness at temperatures up to around 600°C (1112°F). Regular carbon tool steel softens at much lower temperatures, making HSS the preferred choice for cutting tools that generate heat during use, such as lathe bits, drill blanks, and scraper blades.

Yes. These strips are supplied in an annealed (soft) state to make shaping and machining easier. Once you have ground or filed the blank to your desired profile, the piece should be hardened and tempered using a heat treatment process appropriate for M2-grade HSS. Skipping heat treatment will result in a tool that dulls quickly under cutting loads.

Measure the mouth opening width of your plane and select the next size up to allow for grinding to final width. For most standard bench planes, the 50mm or 60mm wide strips provide enough material. For narrow shoulder or rebate planes, the 14mm or 10mm strips are typically sufficient. Always verify your plane's blade seat dimensions before ordering.

In the annealed state, HSS can be cut with an angle grinder fitted with a thin cutting disc, a hacksaw with a bi-metal blade, or a cold saw. Avoid using standard wood-cutting or aluminum-cutting blades. Keep the cut zone cool with water or cutting fluid to prevent localized hardening that could cause cracking during subsequent heat treatment.

HSS has limited corrosion resistance compared to stainless steel. In humid environments or when stored long-term, a light coat of machine oil or rust-preventive spray is recommended. For applications requiring corrosion resistance alongside hardness, consider stainless tool steel alternatives instead.

Choose a blank that is at least 1–2mm wider and longer than your target finished dimension to allow for grinding stock. For thickness, since all variants are 1mm, verify that 1mm matches your application requirement — if you need a thicker blank, these strips can be stacked and bonded, or you may need a different product. Contact us to confirm if you have a specific tolerance requirement.

Aluminum oxide (white or grey) grinding wheels are the standard choice for HSS in the annealed state. For finish grinding after hardening, a CBN (cubic boron nitride) wheel or a fine-grit diamond wheel produces the cleanest edge with minimal heat input. Avoid silicon carbide wheels, which are better suited for carbide and ceramics.