1.2562 (142WV13)

1.2562 is a melt-metallurgical corrugated steel, which was originally designed for the production of reamers, broaches, engraving pins and similar tools. It combines the properties of hardness, wear resistance and toughness (in relation to other steels of the same hardness) like hardly any other steel. This is precisely why it is ideally suited for the manufacture of knives, especially kitchen knives. 

But forging (especially fire welding) and heat treatment place higher demands on the blacksmith / knife maker than most other low and medium alloy tool steels. This steel tends to crack even if it is only slightly overheated. In addition, it reacts sensitively to both too strong and too little deformation. Fire welding should be carried out with the exclusion of oxygen, as otherwise bad welds can result. 

Even if this steel is declared as a water hardener, I cannot recommend hardening a knife in this way under any circumstances. Due to water hardening, there is an above-average risk of cracking. With standard cross-sections and quenching in a quick hardening oil, a working hardness of up to 68hrc can be achieved. 

In practice it has been shown that the steel for hot forming should not be heated to over 1000 degrees. The steel behaves relatively unproblematically in the range between 970 and 830 degrees. The degree of deformation should be reduced at temperatures below 830 degrees.

I myself do not offer a hardening service for the steels I sell. However, I can unreservedly recommend the hardening service of my colleague Jürgen Schanz. He works with a very experienced hardening shop that also carries out demanding heat treatments exactly according to customer requirements. If necessary, contact Jürgen Schanz directly via his contact form.