Whilst conversions between tensile strengths and steel hardness are not exact comparisons a chart showing comparisons can be found here.

We can supply almost any quantity from a single 1 metre bar shipped anywhere in the UK , usually (subject to stock), within 48 hours.

Our stock is in the black “as rolled” condition, suitable for heat treatment.

Call Steve at BSS Steelstrip on 01709 530591.

We are able to offer a wide range of materials for small batch production and development and prototyping,  including:-

Hardened and tempered polished polished carbon spring steel in CS80, CS90, 75CR1 and CS100 from 0.05mm to 4.00mm

Hardened and tempered stainless spring steel in type 420 from 0.1mm to 3.00mm

CS70 annealed spring steel strip

Temper rolled type 301 stainless spring steel from 0.005 to 1.20mm

Additionally we can supply stainless and mild steel hard rolled shim stock, medium carbon sheet, music/piano wire, and spring steel blanks.

As a further service to designers and product developers we are able to offer laser cut profiles to your drawings and small batch spring production.

For more information call Steve on 01709 530591

We stock CS4 hard rolled 165VPN minimum (470 n/mm²) in a thickness range from .0015″ (0.04mm) to .128″ (3.25mm) in coil or strips.

For enquiries please contact Steve at BSS SteelStrip on 01709 530591 or email bss@steelstrip.co.uk

We also stock larger sheets suitable for laser cutting.

The sheet  material is 75CR1 which is an equivalent to BS 1449 CS80 and is bright cold rolled hardened and tempered to a Rockwell hardness of 48 to 50 C.

Applications include automobile molding and trim, wheel cover, conveyor belts, kitchen equipment, roof draining systems, hose clamps, springs, truck and trailer bodies, railway and subway cars.

Type 301 is resistant to a variety of corrosive media. However, the corrosion properties are not as good as the 18-8 chromium-nickel steels.

In the hard rolled condition it is suitable for stainless feeler gauge stock, precision foils, stainless springs and parts of higher strength. This alloy is little magnetic and can not be held by magnetic tables of grinding machines.

At  BSS we hold a range of thickness in the hard rolled condition from 0.05mm to 1.63mm, and as always we are happy to supply small quantities. We also stock Type 420 hardened and tempered stainless spring steel.

More information on 301 can be found at the excellent AZOM site

We stock a wide range of materials up to 4.2mm in carbon and stainless spring steel. Furthermore we can offer small order runs.

We can save you the time involved in searching for the material and a subcontractor to cut the components by offering a "one stop" solution. This can save not only time but onward transportation costs.

We are still of course very happy to supply the raw material delivered directly to you or your preferred subcontractor, either in coil strip or sheet.

For more information contact Steve at BSS Steelstrip.

The two most available grades are 1.4310 (AISI 301) hard rolled , and BS420S37 and BS420S45 (AISI 420) hardened and tempered.

301 is an austenitic stainless with good corrosion resistance and in the hard rolled condition achieves high tensile strengths and is used commonly for applications such as feeler gauge stock, stainless foils and spring applications. Type 301 in the hard rolled condition has low magnetic properties, and cannot be held by magnetic tables etc.

420 is a martensitic stainless grade and for spring applications is supplied in the hardened and tempered condition, where hardnesses between 48 and 52 Rockwell C are typically achieved. Typical applications will include knife blades, surgical instruments, needle valves and shear blades. 420 has good magnetic properties.

At BSS we can supply small quantities of both grades. We stock type 301 hard rolled in sheet from 0.003mm to 1mm and in coil from 0.20mm to 1.20mm. We stock type 420 in sheet from 0.50mm to 3mm and in coil from 0.10mm to 2mm. In both instances coil can be supplied in narrow strips.

Spring steels by their nature are hard and should you require we can provide strips/blanks cut to your final size/drilled etc. Shapes and profiles are most commonly produced by laser, water jet or wire cutting, and we are able to laser cut according to your drawings.

BSS can be contacted on (0044 (0)1709 530591 fax 08701 236052 or by email at bss@steelstrip.co.uk

Ask for Steve.

We supply a wide range of manufacturers who use these systems to cut out components, and the advantages of the different systems has been the subject of some discussion.

I came upon this article recently by Jeff Hahn and Steve Szczesniak at the fabricator.com.

Whilst lasers offer some speed advantages over waterjet cutting, the flexibility of waterjets with regard to the types of material they are capable of cutting have lead to them becoming one of the fastest growing technologies available.

Anyone interested in comparing the advantages of the two systems should pop over to the fabricator to read the full article. 

More information on the technologies can be found over at Wikipedia:-

Laser cutting

Waterjet cutting

We stock from 24 swg , 0.22" / 0.56mm to 6swg 0.192" / 4.87mm

Call or email Steve at  BSS Steel Strip.