Choosing raw materials metal stock for a CNC lathe often comes down to a trade-off: a single bar gives you quantity in one diameter, while an assortment gives you flexibility for unknown jobs. The 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment from Oakland Steel Inc. tries to hit the middle, offering ten pieces of free-machining carbon steel in five common sizes for USD 50.72.
Quick Verdict
If you need a versatile supply of 12L14 round bar for small machining projects, this ten-piece set is a sensible pick. It gives you 0.500 in, 0.625 in, 0.750 in, 0.875 in, and 1.000 in bars, each cut to 12 in, with two of each size. The price works out to a convenient way to test a range of diameters without committing to full-length bars.
Who It Suits
This assortment is a good fit for CNC lathe operators, prototype shops, and hobby machinists who regularly work with carbon steel and want a bench stock of round bars. It also suits anyone who needs to make small parts like bushings, fittings, or spindles and wants to avoid ordering each size separately. If your work is exclusively with mild steel or stainless, you might prefer a different alloy, but for 12L14 machining jobs this covers the bases.
What Stands Out from the Listed Details
#### 12L14 Steel Round Bar Assortment
The practical reason to choose it is the mix: ten round bars, two each of five diameters from 0.500 in to 1.000 in, each 12 in long, for USD 50.72. The material is 12L14, a resulfurized and rephosphorized carbon steel often used for high-speed screw machine products, spindles, bushings, and hose fittings. The listing also gives a Rockwell hardness of B84, tensile strength of 78,300 psi, yield strength of 60,200 psi, and 10% elongation. The main limitation is that every bar in this set is round profile, so it is not a source for hex or square stock. If you need only round bars for CNC lathe work, this eliminates the hassle of ordering multiple sizes separately.
Meaningful Trade-Offs
The 12-inch length is convenient for small components but may require multiple pieces for longer parts. The assortment is priced as a bundle, so if you only need one diameter, buying a dedicated bar of that size could be a better use of money. Also, while 12L14 is prized for its machinability, it is not a stainless or alloy steel, so for corrosive or high-stress applications you would need to look at a different grade. Finally, this set covers only round bars; if your projects require other shapes, you will need to source those separately.
Bottom Line
The 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment delivers on its promise of a convenient round-bar starter kit. It gives you a range of popular diameters in a free-machining steel, backed by specific material specs, and the bundle price avoids the cost of buying several individual bars. If your shop works with 12L14 on a CNC lathe or screw machine, this is a solid addition to your raw materials metal stock.
