Home | Silver Steel

Genuine Fully Traceable BS1407 Silver Steel

Silver Steel is a versatile high carbon tool steel which is ground and polished to very close tolerances.

It is so called because of its highly polished appearance created by the extremely fine surface finish (maximum 25 CLA). The high carbon content of this BS1407 Silver Steel means that it can be hardened to give considerable wear resistance and the chromium content increases its strength and hardenability. It is readily machinable and supplied in the spheroidised annealed condition. The material as delivered, shall have a hardness of not more than 285HB when measured in accordance with BS240. Our Silver Steel is stocked and sold in box lengths of 333mm as well as 1, 2 and 3 metre lengths. In 2020 we commissioned Edward Pryor’s to make a bespoke Laser Etching machine to improve our process and guarantee traceability for our customers. All the bars are identified with T&A Precision, BS1407 and the corresponding Cast number. With the cast number we will be able to correctly identify which batch the material came from.

Silver Steel BS1407 Chemical Composition

Analysis Range (%) Typical Analysis (%)
C .95/1.25 1.13
Si .40 max .22
Mn .25 / .45 .37
P .045 max .014
S .045 max .018
Cr .35 / .45 .43

Silver Steel BS1407 Size Range

Metric Imperial
Diameter Range: 2mm - 50mm 1/16” - 2”
Supplied in: Boxes, 1 metre, 2 metre and 3 metre lengths

Silver Steel BS1407 Chemical Composition

Diameter Tolerance
< 1” ± 0.00025"
1” - 2” ± 0.0005"
< 25mm + 0/-0.015mm
25mm - 50mm + 0/-0.025mm
The surface finish is better than 25µ inch (0.6 microns) cla.

Silver Steel Hardening

Heat slowly to 760 - 800°C using the upper end of the temperature range for lower carbon contents and lower end of temperature range for higher carbon contents. Austenitize until the temperature is uniform. Quench into well agitated water.

The approximate quench hardness is 65 to 68 Rc.

Silver Steel Tempering

Temper immediately after hardening preferably before the tool reaches room temperature. Temper for a minimum of 1 hour at temperatures between 180 - 350°C, dependent upon the final hardness required.

Silver Steel BS1407 Packaging

  • All 1 metre, 2 metre and 3 metre lengths are packaged in stout cardboard tubes to prevent any damage in transit
  • All 333mm or 13 “ lengths are packaged in polycarbonate lined boxes or jiffy bags
  • All BS1407 Silver Steel pieces are coated in a lanolin solution to protect against corrosion