Steel SKS93
JIS SKS93
SKS93 is a JIS G4404 low-alloy cold-work tool steel with about 1.05 % C plus Mn, Cr and a small W addition; it is oil-hardening and reaches over 63 HRC with a fine grain and good edge retention.
Values for the Annealed condition
SKS93 tempers and conditions
SKS93 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
soft strip for blanking and forming | Bright cold-rolled soft strip for stamped blades and blanks that are hardened after forming. | 430 | 700 | 20 | 11 HRC | 8.6 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault spheroidize/soft annealed (as-supplied bar, strip, plate) | Default stock condition for machining, blanking and pre-heat-treatment fabrication (≤217 HB). | 450 | 750 | 17 | 200 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Mill as-rolled condition — harder and less machinable; normally annealed before use. | 520 | 900 | 10 | 25 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Cold Worked | Work-hardened strip used where a stiff spring-like temper is enough without quenching. | 950 | 1,100 | 3 | 33 HRC | 8.4 % IACS |
Oil quenched, tempered ~250–300 °C | Tougher tempered condition for saw blades, scrapers and thin springy tools needing bend tolerance. | 1,650 | 1,900 | 2 | 56 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, tempered ~200 °C | Balanced hardness/toughness for cutters, gauges and small blanking dies. | 1,850 | 2,100 | 1 | 60 HRC | — |
Oil quenched 790–820 °C, stress-relief tempered 150–180 °C | Maximum-hardness condition (JIS quench requirement ≥63 HRC) for keen cutting edges and wear surfaces; lowest toughness. | 2,300 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | — |
What is SKS93?
SKS93 is a JIS G4404 low-alloy cold-work tool steel with about 1.05 % C plus Mn, Cr and a small W addition; it is oil-hardening and reaches over 63 HRC with a fine grain and good edge retention. It is supplied as annealed bar (450 MPa yield, 750 MPa tensile, about 200 HB) and as quenched-and-tempered cold-rolled strip at 54-58, 58-61 or 61-64 HRC for saw blades, scrapers, thin cutting blades, gauges and small blanking dies. Hardenability and temper resistance are limited, with service to roughly 200 °C, corrosion resistance and weldability are poor, and thick sections can crack on quenching, so heat treatment must be closely controlled. SKS93 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). SKS93 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 17% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is SKS93 used for?
- Hand saw and band saw blades
- Thin-blade cutting knives
- Scrapers and putty blades
- Small blanking and piercing dies
- Measuring gauges and straight edges
- Hand tool blades and chisels
- Slitting knives for thin stock
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 18/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades
SKS93 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SKS93-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
SKS93 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
SKS93 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 17% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
SKS93 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.8 µm/m·K (6.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
SKS93 conducts electricity at 8.6 % IACS, better than 66% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SKS93 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
SKS93's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (18/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. SKS93 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SKS93
Is SKS93 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed (≤217 HB) state with sharp carbide or HSS-Co tooling and modest speeds; hardened material needs grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can SKS93 be welded?
Poor weldability — high carbon promotes cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 250–350 °C, use matching/low-hydrogen filler and temper immediately after welding.
Can SKS93 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form, bend and blank in the soft annealed strip condition; harden after forming, and stress-relieve heavily worked blanks before quenching to limit distortion.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to SKS93. Every SKS93 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better45 / 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 |
SKS93 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 | 1 – 1.1 | 1.05 |
| Sisome secondary tables list Si ≤0.50 | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.8 – 1.1 | 0.95 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.4 |
| W | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Niresidual max | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on SKS93?
Grind and polish after hardening to a fine edge; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate or thin chrome/nitride coating since the bare steel rusts quickly.
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 SKS93 cost?
SKS93 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.
SKS93 — frequently asked
What is SKS93 used for?
SKS93 is typically used for hand saw and band saw blades, thin-blade cutting knives, scrapers and putty blades, small blanking and piercing dies, measuring gauges and straight edges and hand tool blades and chisels. In short: oil-hardening tool steel.
What is the yield strength of SKS93?
SKS93 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 7 listed tempers.
Is SKS93 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed (≤217 HB) state with sharp carbide or HSS-Co tooling and modest speeds; hardened material needs grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can SKS93 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (18/100). Poor weldability — high carbon promotes cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 250–350 °C, use matching/low-hydrogen filler and temper immediately after welding.
What surface finishes work on SKS93?
Grind and polish after hardening to a fine edge; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate or thin chrome/nitride coating since the bare steel rusts quickly.
Can SKS93 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form, bend and blank in the soft annealed strip condition; harden after forming, and stress-relieve heavily worked blanks before quenching to limit distortion.
What is the maximum service temperature of SKS93?
SKS93 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.
What is the difference between SKS93 Annealed and SKS93 CW-Hard?
Annealed is the default condition — default stock condition for machining, blanking and pre-heat-treatment fabrication (≤217 HB). CW-Hard: work-hardened strip used where a stiff spring-like temper is enough without quenching. Yield strength is 450 MPa in Annealed versus 950 MPa in CW-Hard.
How much does SKS93 cost?
SKS93 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 SKS93?
Yes — SKS93 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
- JIS G 4404 — Alloy tool steels — Japanese Standards Association (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 4 — Heat Treating (tool steel hardening practice) — ASM International (1991)
- GB/T 1299 — (comparison of alloy tool steel grades) — SAC (China) (2014)
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.