High‑Hardness, Wear‑Resistant Tool Steel for Precision Machining & General Engineering
Silver Steel (BS1407) is a high‑carbon tool steel supplied as centreless‑ground round bar, offering exceptional dimensional accuracy, a bright silver finish, and excellent machinability. The “silver” name refers to its polished appearance — a result of chromium content that enhances strength, hardness, and wear resistance. Silver Steel is widely used across engineering, toolmaking, maintenance, and model‑making industries. It machines cleanly, hardens to 65–69 Rc, and is ideal for tools, shafts, pins, punches, cutters, and precision components. Note: Silver Steel rusts easily when exposed to air or moisture and should be protected accordingly. M&G Industrial stocks water‑hardened Silver Steel rods in 500mm lengths, ready for machining, heat treatment, and toolmaking applications.
Why Choose Silver Steel (BS1407)?
High Hardness & Wear Resistance
- Hardens to 65–69 Rc when water‑quenched
- Excellent edge retention
- Ideal for cutting tools, punches, and fine cutters
Centreless Ground for Precision
- Tight tolerances similar to drill rod
- Smooth, bright finish
- Accurate diameter control for precision fits
Excellent Machinability
- Machines cleanly before hardening
- Suitable for CNC and manual machining
- Reliable for small, detailed, or high‑accuracy components
Versatile Tool Steel
Used for:
- Screwdrivers
- Punches
- Shafts & axles
- Pinions & pins
- Die posts
- Instrument parts
- Model engineering components
- Taps & drills for mild steel
- Engraving tools
- Fine cutters
M&G Industrial Carries Silver Steel Rods (500mm Lengths)
Metric Sizes
- 2mm
- 2.5mm
- 3mm
- 3.5mm
- 4mm
- 5mm
- 6mm
- 8mm
- 10mm
- 12mm
- 16mm
- 20mm
Imperial Sizes
- 1/16″
- 1/8″
- 5/32″
- 3/16″
- 1/4″
- 5/16″
- 3/8″
- 1/2″
- 5/8″
- 3/4″
Silver Steel BS1407 – Chemical Composition
| Element | Range (%) | Typical (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.95–1.25 | 1.13 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤0.40 | 0.22 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.25–0.45 | 0.37 |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤0.045 | 0.014 |
| Sulphur (S) | ≤0.045 | 0.018 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.35–0.45 | 0.43 |
Size Range & Tolerances (BS1407 Standard)
- Metric: 2mm – 50mm
- Imperial: 1/16″ – 2″
Diameter Tolerances
- < 1″: ±0.00025″
- 1″–2″: ±0.0005″
- < 25mm: +0 / –0.015mm
- 25–50mm: +0 / –0.025mm
Surface finish: better than 25µ inch (0.6 µm).
Heat Treatment Guide (Water Hardening)
Hardening
- Heat slowly to 760–800°C
- Use upper range for lower carbon content
- Use lower range for higher carbon content
- Austenitize until temperature is uniform
- Quench in well‑agitated water
- Achieves 65–69 Rc
Tempering
- Temper immediately after hardening
- Minimum 1 hour
- 180–350°C depending on required hardness
Why Canberra Workshops Choose M&G Industrial
- Local stock of Silver Steel in metric & imperial
- Precision‑ground rods for toolmaking & machining
- Fast supply for urgent workshop requirements
- Industrial‑grade technical support