Steel 1.2510
EN 1.2510
1.2510 (100MnCrW4, AISI O1) is a high-carbon oil-hardening cold-work tool steel alloyed with manganese, chromium, tungsten and vanadium, which quenches with little distortion at moderate case depth and reaches a stable 58–64 HRC with good dimensional stability and edge retention.
Values for the Annealed condition
1.2510 tempers and conditions
1.2510 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
600–650 °C after rough machining | Intermediate step for large or asymmetric tools to minimize distortion during subsequent hardening. | 440 | 740 | 16 | 16 HRC | 7 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault soft (spheroidized) annealed, ≤229 HB | Standard as-delivered condition for bar, plate and flat stock; machine to shape then harden. | 450 | 750 | 15 | 16 HRC | 7 % IACS |
as-rolled / black bar, unmachined | Cheapest raw form; usually still soft annealed after rolling, requires machining allowance for scale and decarburized skin. | 470 | 780 | 12 | 18 HRC | 7 % IACS |
annealed then cold drawn/peeled bar | Choose for small-diameter bar needing close tolerance and clean surface without further turning. | 620 | 850 | 8 | 24 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Oil quenched from ~800 °C, tempered ~250 °C | Tougher setting for shear blades and impact-loaded punches where chipping is the main risk. | 1,700 | 2,000 | 2 | 57 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, tempered ~200 °C | Most common working hardness for blanking dies, gauges and woodworking tools — best wear/toughness balance. | 1,850 | 2,150 | 1.5 | 59 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, tempered 150–180 °C | For maximum wear resistance and edge holding in thin-stock blanking, knives and reamers, accepting lower toughness. | 2,000 | 2,300 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, low temper ~120–150 °C | Peak hardness for gauges, knife edges and light-duty cutting tools; brittle, avoid impact or heavy sections. | 2,400 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1.2510 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Ground Flat Stock | Annealed, precision ground on 4 sides | Surface finish |
What is 1.2510?
1.2510 (100MnCrW4, AISI O1) is a high-carbon oil-hardening cold-work tool steel alloyed with manganese, chromium, tungsten and vanadium, which quenches with little distortion at moderate case depth and reaches a stable 58–64 HRC with good dimensional stability and edge retention. It is machined and ground in the soft-annealed state (450 MPa yield, 750 MPa tensile, 15 % elongation, ~210 HB) and is widely stocked as ground flat stock, cold-drawn and hot-rolled bar. Limits are poor tempering resistance (it softens rapidly above about 200 °C), hardenability suited only to small and medium sections, and lower wear and corrosion resistance than high-chromium cold-work steels such as 1.2379/D2. 1.2510 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,350°C (2,462 °F). 1.2510 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 1.2510 used for?
- Blanking and piercing dies
- Shear blades
- Gauges and measuring tools
- Taps and reamers
- Woodworking knives
- Punches and form tools
- Precision ground flat stock details
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 78/100, better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 78% of steel grades
1.2510 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.2510-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1.2510 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,350°C (2,462 °F).
Mechanical17
1.2510 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.2510 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.2510 conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.2510 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
1.2510's machinability is fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (30/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 1.2510 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.2510
Is 1.2510 easy to machine?
Machine in the soft-annealed condition (~210 HB) with HSS or coated carbide; after hardening above 58 HRC only grinding, EDM or CBN cutting is practical.
Can 1.2510 be welded?
Poor weldability — repair welds only, with 300–400 °C preheat, matching low-alloy filler and immediate temper at the part's tempering temperature to avoid quench cracks.
Can 1.2510 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming limited to gentle bending of annealed thin stock; hot work at 850–1050 °C, then slow cool and soft anneal at 750–800 °C before machining.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 1.2510. Every 1.2510 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better42 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
1.2510 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.9 – 1.05 | 0.95 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 1 – 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Cr | 0.5 – 0.7 | 0.6 |
| W | 0.5 – 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Voptional in some standards | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.2510?
Takes a fine mirror polish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate or PVD coating since the alloy has no intrinsic corrosion resistance.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
How much does 1.2510 cost?
1.2510 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.2510 — frequently asked
What is 1.2510 used for?
1.2510 is typically used for blanking and piercing dies, shear blades, gauges and measuring tools, taps and reamers, woodworking knives and punches and form tools. In short: workhorse oil-hardening tool.
What is the yield strength of 1.2510?
1.2510 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 1.2510 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades). Machine in the soft-annealed condition (~210 HB) with HSS or coated carbide; after hardening above 58 HRC only grinding, EDM or CBN cutting is practical.
Can 1.2510 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Poor weldability — repair welds only, with 300–400 °C preheat, matching low-alloy filler and immediate temper at the part's tempering temperature to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on 1.2510?
Takes a fine mirror polish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate or PVD coating since the alloy has no intrinsic corrosion resistance.
Can 1.2510 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming limited to gentle bending of annealed thin stock; hot work at 850–1050 °C, then slow cool and soft anneal at 750–800 °C before machining.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.2510?
1.2510 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.2510 cost?
1.2510 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1.2510?
Yes — 1.2510 is available for CNC machining; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN ISO 4957 Tool steels (100MnCrW4, 1.2510) — ISO/CEN (2018)
- ASTM A681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy (O1) — ASTM (2015)
- GB/T 1299 (9CrWMn) — SAC (2014)
- Uddeholm Arne (O1 / 1.2510) datasheet — Uddeholm / voestalpine (2021)
- BÖHLER K460 cold work tool steel datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.