Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1210°C(2210°F)
Soak Time10 minutes
Tempering
Temperature550°C(1022°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles3x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
64 - 66 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5.5/10
Edge Retention7.5/10
Corrosion Resistance2/10
Ease of Sharpening4/10
Overall Score19/40
Interesting Facts
- 15% cobalt high-speed steel - 'Cobalt HSS'
- 2Red hardness up to 620°C (1150°F)
- 3Better heat resistance than M2 for machining
- 4Popular for drilling stainless steel
- 5Not common in knives - too brittle for blades
Famous Uses
Industrial drill bits
Premium cutting tools
Best For
High-performance cutting
Industrial tools
Specialty knives
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments (rusts)
- Beginners
- Budget
Expert Tips
- 1Cobalt adds hot hardness
- 2Better than M2 at high temps
- 3Scarce - often from old tools
- 4Difficult to sharpen