QuenchAir / 2-bar positive-pressure gas / plate quench, cool to <125°F
Cryo / sub-zeroRequired — dry ice or LN2 — recommended (maker practice) to convert retained austenite
Temper3× 2 h · cool to room temp between cycles
Reliable hardness60–63 HRC
PM tool steel — tougher, more wear-resistant than D2. Plate quench, cryo, high-temp triple temper.
Temper → hardness chart
Approximate HRC after a double-temper at each temperature (from the sources below). Set your target and pick the matching temper.
Temper °F
Temper °C
Hardness
950°F
510°C
63 HRC
1000°F
538°C
62 HRC
1025°F
552°C
61 HRC
1050°F
566°C
60 HRC
Composition (typical, wt%)
Element
%
C
1.1%
Cr
7.5%
V
2.4%
Mo
1.6%
W
1.15%
Crucible CPM CruWear datasheet
HeatTreatBench — the recipes in your shop, offline
Get the full Cru-Wear recipe plus 25 more steels offline — set your target HRC and the app gives you the exact temper, with a forge timer and a per-blade log. Works in the shop with no signal.