Round Bars or Shim Stock? Compare 4 Metal Stock Options Priced $16.14 to $73.99

Quick Take

You need metal stock for a job, but the decision is not just about price. Do you need round bar for machining or thin strips for shimming? Do you want an assortment of diameters and thicknesses, or one dedicated rod? The four options presented here span a listed price range from about $16 to about $74, so matching the form and size to the task matters more than the spread.

Listed Price Comparison

Which One Fits Your Work?

• Assortment-first buying leads to the 12L14 steel round bar set. It gives you ten bars: two each of 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", and 1" diameter, all in 12" lengths. If your project involves CNC lathe work or general machining, this is the only option here that gives you multiple diameters to work with.
• For precise spacing or alignment, the 24-piece 304 stainless steel shim assortment is useful because it includes strips from 0.02 mm to 0.3 mm thick. The 1" width by 12" length is compact, and the package includes 24 strips.
• For a single dedicated tool-steel rod, the A2 3/4" rod gives you an oversize diameter in annealed condition, ready for machining. Pair that with the larger D2 1-1/4" rod if you need more cross-section.

Product Notes

12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment - 10 Pcs - CNC Lathe Machining Metal Rods

This assortment is built around machining. The two bars of each diameter in 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", and 1" let you test or build with several sizes without buying separate rods. The 12" length keeps every bar uniform, and the carbon steel description highlights free-machining characteristics. The limitation is the assortment design itself: if you only need one specific diameter, you are buying ten bars. At the listed USD 50.72, it is the most complete package among these four for someone who wants diameter flexibility.

24 Pcs 304 Stainless Steel Strips Metal Shim Stock Assortment 1" Width X 12" Len

For shimming jobs, this is the strip option. The 24 stainless steel pieces are each roughly 12" long and 1" wide, with thicknesses ranging from 0.02 mm to 0.3 mm. That range allows incremental adjustments in a build or repair. The compact size makes it easy to store, and the USD 16.14 listed price is the lowest here. The trade-off is that these strips are not round bar stock; they are for spacing, alignment, and gap-filling rather than structural machining.

A2 Tool Steel 3/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, A-2, Oversized

This is a single 3/4" diameter rod, 12" long, made from A2 tool steel. The description lists machined finish and annealed condition, with diameter tolerance from +0.005" to +0.030" and length tolerance up to +0.250". That oversize allowance is useful if you plan to machine the rod to a final dimension. The listed price is USD 34.99. The limitation is the same oversize detail: you need to account for the added material when machining, and you receive one rod rather than a set.

D2 Tool Steel 1-1/4" Round, 12" long rod bar, D-2, Oversized

The largest round bar in this comparison is this D2 tool steel rod at 1-1/4" diameter and 12" length. Like the A2 option, it is listed as oversize with a machined finish and annealed condition, so there is machining allowance built in. At USD 73.99, it is the highest listed price here, which makes sense for the larger cross-section. The limitation is that you are getting a single rod, and the oversize tolerance means you should plan for finishing work before it reaches a nominal 1-1/4" dimension.

Final Recommendation by Use Case

• If you want one practical milling-rod set: choose the 12L14 Steel Round Bar Stock Assortment for its five diameters and two bars per size.
• If you need thin, adjustable shims: choose the 24-piece 304 stainless steel strip assortment for the thickness range and low listed price.
• If you want a single 3/4" tool-steel rod: choose the A2 3/4" round rod for its annealed, oversize condition.
• If you need the largest cross-section: choose the D2 1-1/4" round rod when diameter matters more than cost.