Seven grades we keep in stock and machine every week. Pick by failure mode, not by price — this page explains which grade fixes which problem.
| Grade | Hardness | Wear resistance | Toughness | Best for | Our note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cr12MoV | HRC 58–62 | High | Medium | General slitting, paper, film, mixed packaging | Widely used, well understood grade. Good balance of cost and life. |
| SKD-11 (D2) | HRC 60–64 | Very high | Medium-high | Abrasive film, board, high-speed converting | Longer life than Cr12MoV at higher cost. The default upgrade. |
| 9CrSi | HRC 56–60 | Medium-high | Medium | Paper, wood, economy tooling | Economical and forgiving. Common for large straight knives. |
| 6CrW2Si | HRC 54–58 | Medium | Very high | Chipper knives, scrap, impact-heavy cutting | Chosen when chipping is the failure mode, not wear. |
| HSS M2 / M42 | HRC 62–66 | Very high | Medium | High-speed lines, thin film, long production runs | M42 (cobalt) for heat resistance at very high line speeds. |
| 440C Stainless | HRC 54–58 | Medium-high | Medium | Food processing, wash-down, hygiene-critical | Rust-free. Required wherever blades see water and cleaning. |
| Solid Carbide | HRC 64–70 | Extreme | Low-medium | Abrasive film, battery electrode, long-life demand | 10–20× tool steel life, but brittle and not resharpened many times. |
Widely used, well understood grade. Good balance of cost and life.
Full grade guideLonger life than Cr12MoV at higher cost. The default upgrade.
Full grade guideEconomical and forgiving. Common for large straight knives.
Full grade guideChosen when chipping is the failure mode, not wear.
Full grade guideM42 (cobalt) for heat resistance at very high line speeds.
Full grade guideRust-free. Required wherever blades see water and cleaning.
Full grade guide10–20× tool steel life, but brittle and not resharpened many times.
Full grade guide