Description
SK5 San Mai Clad 410ss Bars
SK5 Tool Steel San Mai 410 Stainless Steel Clad, Made by Sanwa Special Steel company.
SK5 Is a Japanese made high carbon steel, often used in a range of tools including razors, Utility knives, scalpels and more. Its lower cost, consistent quality, hardenability and other features lend it to being a well known steel in the Japanese scene.
Carbon – 0.8%
Chromium – 0.3%
Nickel - 0.25%
Manganese– 0.30%
Copper - 0.25%
Silicon – 0.10%
Phosphorus - 0.03%
Sulfer - 0.03%
Iron – Balance
Toughness 7/10 – Sk5 Is a very tough steel with impressive impact resistance. It has a good balance of toughness and hardness when tempered correctly. However this comes at a loss of some corrosion resistance.
Edge retention 7/10 – Due to its high toughness its edge retention is also quite sturdy and holds a decent edge for a good working knife.
Corrosion resistance 2/10 – Due to SK5 being a tool / carbon steel it is on the lower end of corrasion resistance, it will require maintained to not rust.
Recommended heat treatment
- Coat blade in an anti scale compound
- Austenitise – heat to 810°C and hold for 20 minutes
- Quench in Fast quench oil
- Temper at 185-200°C for 2 hours, twice, depending on desired hardness
Approximate as-quenched hardness before tempering:
- 810°C followed by cooling to room temperature 64HRC
Recommended working hardness 58-60HRC
A low and long temper is recommended after your normal temper ~100c for 2+ hours to relieve any additional stress in the blade and reduce core delamination possibility.
