Need raw material for a lathe project or tooling run? The practical question is whether you want several diameters in one buy or a single larger oversized blank. This head-to-head compares a ten-piece 12L14 steel round bar assortment with a single D2 tool steel rod at different list prices.
Quick Verdict
Choose the 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment if you want 10 pieces across five diameters and plan to machine general carbon steel parts. Choose the D2 Tool Steel 1-1/4" Round, 12" long rod bar if your job needs one oversized D2 blank at 1.25 inches. The assortment lists at $50.72, while the D2 rod lists at $73.99.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment - 10 Pcs - CNC Lathe Machining Metal Rods | USD 50.72 | 10 pieces, two each of 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 1 in diameters | |
| D2 Tool Steel 1-1/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, D-2, Oversized | USD 73.99 | Single 1-1/4 in D2 rod with oversized diameter tolerance |
Where Each Product Wins
- The 12L14 assortment wins on variety: two bars of each diameter from 1/2 inch to 1 inch, giving you a range of round stock in one purchase. The 12L14 material is a resulfurized carbon steel suited to machining.
- The D2 tool steel rod wins on size and material: a single 1-1/4-inch rod with a machined finish and an oversized tolerance of +.005 to +.030 inch, which leaves material for finishing. The rod is in annealed D2 tool steel.
Product Notes
12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment - 10 Pcs - CNC Lathe Machining Metal Rods
This is a ten-piece kit with two cold-drawn round bars at each of five diameters: 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 1 inch. Every rod is 12 inches long, and the material is 12L14 carbon steel, a grade commonly associated with screw machine products, spindles, bushings, and hose fittings. If you need multiple diameters for prototyping or general machining, this assortment gives you that spread in one purchase. The included diameters top out at 1 inch, so a project that needs a 1.25-inch blank would look to the other rod. With only two of each size, the assortment is better suited to variety than to bulk production of a single diameter.
D2 Tool Steel 1-1/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, D-2, Oversized
This is one 1.25-inch diameter, 12-inch long round rod in D2 tool steel. The rod is in annealed condition with a machined finish, with diameter tolerance from +.005 to +.030 inch oversized and length tolerance from +.000 to +.250 inch. That oversized tolerance is the reason to pick it: you have enough stock to machine the rod down to a precise final dimension. Because it is a single rod, this option offers no variety of diameters. For a tooling project that calls for D2 material at this size, the rod's specifications match the job, but the lack of multiple diameters is the trade-off.
Final Choice by Use Case
For multi-diameter work - say you're making bushings, fittings, or small spindles and want a range of standard round stock - the 12L14 assortment's five diameters and ten total rods make it the practical buy. For a specific tooling job that needs a larger oversized D2 blank, the 1-1/4-inch D2 rod is the one to order. The two options serve different needs: a multi-size kit versus a single specialty rod.
