HeatTreatBench · knife steel heat-treat recipes

MagnaCut Heat Treat Recipe

Stainless knife steel · target 59–63 HRC · austenitize 2050°F (1121°C)

platecryo
CategoryStainless
Austenitize (recommended)2050°F (1121°C)
Austenitize range2000–2125°F (1093–1163°C)
Preheat1550°F (843°C)
Soak at temperature10–20 min
QuenchPlate quench (aluminum plates); oil or 2-bar gas quench also fine — cool below 125°F
Cryo / sub-zeroOptional — LN2 / dry ice — optional, within 30 min of quench, before temper (recipe table assumes cryo)
Temper2× 2 h · cool to room temp between cycles
Reliable hardness59–63 HRC
Larrin Thomas's PM stainless — exceptional balance.

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 °FTemper °CHardness
300°F149°C63 HRC
350°F177°C62 HRC
400°F204°C61 HRC
500°F260°C59 HRC

Composition (typical, wt%)

Element%
C1.15%
Cr10.7%
V4%
Mo2%
Nb2%
N0.2%

Crucible CPM MagnaCut datasheet

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Sources

More Stainless steels

AEB-L1950°F · 61–64 HRC14C28N1950°F · 58–62 HRCNitro-V1900°F · 58–64 HRCCPM-1541950°F · 60–62 HRCCPM-S30V1950°F · 58.5–60.5 HRCM3902050°F · 60–62 HRC