A3 Tool Steel Round & Flat Bar
Arch Metals supplies A3 tool steel round and flat bar from Dallas, Texas, to tool and die shops across Texas and the surrounding states. A3 is an air-hardening, medium-alloy cold-work tool steel with more vanadium than A2, which gives it better wear resistance while keeping low distortion during heat treatment. We supply annealed A3 to ASTM A681 with certified material and saw cutting to size. Request a quote and we’ll confirm sizes and availability.
A3 Tool Steel Forms
- Round bar, annealed
- Flat bar, annealed
- Saw-cut blanks and blocks
Size availability changes with mill supply. Send us your sizes through our quote request form and we’ll confirm stock, lead time and pricing.
A3 Tool Steel Condition and Specifications
- Annealed bar (ASTM A681): supplied soft for machining and hardened afterward.
- Heat treatment (Air quench): air hardening keeps size change and distortion low. Typical working hardness is about 60–64 HRC.
- Equivalent designations (UNS T30103)
Not sure which condition or specification your drawing calls for? Send us the print requirements and we’ll match the material.
Typical Properties of A3 Tool Steel
- Annealed hardness: about 229–255 HB
- Working hardness: about 60–64 HRC after hardening and tempering
- Wear resistance: higher than A2
- Density: 0.282 lb/in³ (7.81 g/cm³)
- Chemistry: about 1.25% carbon, 5% chromium, 1% molybdenum and 1% vanadium
These are typical values for A3 tool steel. Guaranteed minimums vary by specification, condition and size, so check the governing spec or your mill cert for design values.
Why Toolmakers Choose A3 Tool Steel
A3 sits between A2 and the high-chromium D-series steels. It hardens in air with very little movement, like A2, but its higher carbon and vanadium give noticeably better wear life. When impact is the bigger risk, S7 tool steel is tougher; for maximum abrasion resistance, see D7 tool steel. Common uses for A3 include:
- Blanking, forming and trim dies
- Punches and die inserts
- Gauges and wear parts
- Slitter knives
A3 Tool Steel FAQs
How is A3 different from A2 tool steel?
A3 has more carbon and vanadium than A2, so it is more wear resistant, with slightly less toughness.
Why choose an air-hardening tool steel?
Air hardening produces less distortion and size change than oil or water quenching, which saves grinding time on precision dies.
What hardness is A3 used at?
Typically about 60 to 64 HRC, depending on the tempering temperature and how much toughness the tool needs.
Cut-to-Size A3 Tool Steel With Delivery Across Texas
We ship A3 tool steel throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arizona, and we saw bar and plate to the size you need. See our processing services for cutting options, or browse all the metals we supply. We also supply S7, D7 and H11 tool steel.
To get pricing, send us the grade, condition, form, size, length and quantity through our quote request form, or call (888) 444-6061.