Blog

When selecting an air-hardening tool steel, the choice between A2 and A4 is often a consideration. The key takeaway is this: Neither A2 nor A4 is inherently superior; they offer different balances of wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability. The optimal choice depends entirely on the specific demands of your tooling application. Making the proper […]

Conclusion: While AISI A2 tool steel is a versatile and popular air-hardening, cold-work steel known for its good toughness and dimensional stability, it’s generally not the top recommendation for most knife applications. Its wear resistance is good, but is surpassed by other grades, such as D2 tool steel. Notably, it lacks the corrosion resistance typically

When deciding between tool steels, specifically AISI A2 and AISI D2, it’s not just about which one is “better.” Both are excellent cold-work tool steels, but they shine in different situations. The key is understanding your specific needs and matching them to the right steel. Let’s break down their characteristics. AISI D2 Tool Steel: The

When it comes to die casting, selecting the right tool steel is crucial for success. Many of our customers rely on H13 tool steel, and for good reason. Let’s break down why H13 tool steel is a workhorse in this demanding field. H13 is a 5% chromium hot-work die steel, widely used for casting metals

With over two decades of supplying top-quality tool and alloy steels, we frequently receive questions about selecting the best grade for a specific application. Today, let’s compare two standard models: SKD11 versus SKD61. While both are reliable Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) tool steels, they are designed for fundamentally different worlds within the factory. Understanding their

A frequent technical question we address from workshops and engineers concerns the classification of AISI 4140 steel: does it belong in the tool steel category? Based on standard industry classifications, AISI 4140 is not typically grouped with traditional tool steels, such as the W, O, A, D, S, H, M, T, L, F, or P

When selecting materials for demanding applications, understanding the mechanical properties is critical. For engineers working with structural components and machinery, tensile strength is a key metric. Let’s take a straightforward look at AISI 4140 steel, a popular choice we supply here at Aobo Steel, and specifically its tensile strength. What is 4140 Steel? First, AISI

A common question we encounter is about steel designations, specifically regarding A2 and Type 304 stainless steel. It’s essential to be clear, as different global standards can sometimes lead to confusion. To put it directly: Yes, Type 304 stainless steel is often referred to as “A2” under the ISO 3506 standard. If you see “A2”

Selecting the correct steel grade is critical for the performance and longevity of your tooling. At Aobo Steel, with our extensive experience in tool steel forging, we often guide customers through the differences between popular grades. Two common choices, particularly for mold and die applications, are P20 and H13. While both are workhorses, they have

At Aobo Steel, with our extensive experience in tool steel, we frequently receive questions about the best material for specific applications. A common one involves D2 tool steel and its suitability for demanding applications, often described as “chopping” – think shearing, blanking, or heavy trimming in manufacturing. D2 steel is a popular choice for these