When you're shopping for raw metal stock for machining, the first fork in the road is often material grade vs. size variety. Two products that capture this tradeoff are the 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment - 10 Pcs - CNC Lathe Machining Metal Rods and the A2 Tool Steel 3/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, A-2, Oversized. The 12L14 package, from Oakland Steel Inc., is priced at USD 50.72, while the single A2 rod is listed at USD 34.99. Both are new and made in the United States, but they are built for very different jobs: one gives you a range of diameters in a machining-friendly carbon steel, and the other gives you a single, precisely specified tool steel rod.
Quick Verdict
If you need multiple diameters for high-speed screw machine work or general machining prototypes, the 12L14 assortment gives you 10 bars across five common sizes for one price. If your project specifically calls for an annealed tool steel rod in an oversize, the A2 rod is the more direct purchase, even though it is a single bar. The assortment is the better fit for a general shop; the single rod is better when material grade is non-negotiable.
At a Glance
| Product | Price | Price Bar | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment - 10 Pcs - CNC Lathe Machining Metal Rods | USD 50.72 | 10 bars (2 each of 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1") of 12L14 carbon steel, 12" long | |
| A2 Tool Steel 3/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, A-2, Oversized | USD 34.99 | 1 bar of 3/4" diameter, 12" long A2 tool steel, annealed, oversized, machined finish |
Where Each Product Wins
The 12L14 assortment wins for versatility and quantity. The package includes two bars of each of five diameters, all in 12L14 carbon steel, a resulfurized and rephosphorized grade known for excellent machinability. It is suited to high-speed screw machine products, spindles, bushings, and hose fittings, with a Rockwell hardness of B84, a tensile strength of 78,300 psi, and a yield strength of 60,200 psi.
The A2 tool steel rod wins for material specificity. It's a single round bar, annealed, with an oversized tolerance of +.005 to +.030 inches, and a machined finish. Tool steel is a different category from carbon steel, and if your job calls for A2, this product gives you exactly that as a single round bar.
Detailed Look
12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment - 10 Pcs - CNC Lathe Machining Metal Rods
This bundle from Oakland Steel Inc. is a 10-piece set of 12L14 carbon steel bars. The material is a resulfurized and rephosphorized grade designed for high-speed machining, and the set covers five diameters with two bars per size. That makes it a strong fit for spindles, bushings, hose fittings, and other screw-machine parts. It has a B84 hardness, 78,300 psi tensile strength, and 60,200 psi yield strength. The tradeoff: it's carbon steel, not tool steel, so it won't serve a job that specifically calls for A2 or another tool-grade alloy. Nor will it give you a continuous length beyond the fixed cuts included.
A2 Tool Steel 3/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, A-2, Oversized
This product is a single A2 tool steel rod in the annealed condition. The oversized tolerance of +.005 to +.030 inches and the machined finish are what make it stand out: you get a bar that is intentionally larger than nominal, ready for final cleanup. Tool steel is a different category from carbon steel, so if your project calls for A2, this rod is a direct match. The limitation is the quantity-you get one bar, not a set, so any need for multiple pieces or extra diameters means purchasing more. It's a deliberately specific purchase for a deliberate job.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose the 12L14 assortment if your job is typical carbon steel machining with a need for several diameters, or if you want a flexible stock set to keep in the shop. Choose the A2 tool steel rod if you need a single, annealed, oversize round for a tool steel project and don't want to buy a multi-bar assortment.
