Heat-treating 154CM with stainless tool wrap
Proven American stainless with a strong balance of edge and corrosion resistance.
Recommended SSTW grade
Grade 309 stainless foil
154CM austenitizes around 2050°F — above ~2000°F — so 309 stainless foil holds up to the heat and longer soaks without embrittling.
Shop 309 tool wrap rolls154CM heat-treat reference
- Austenitizing temp
- 1950–2050°F
- Soak at temp
- 15–30 min
- Quench
- Plate quench, then cryo
- Temper
- 300–400°F, 2× 2 hr
- Typical uses
- EDC, folders, hard-use
- Also known as
- ATS-34
General knifemaking guidance — always follow the steel manufacturer's published data sheet for your exact stock.
Why wrap 154CM in stainless foil
At 2050°F the bare surface of 154CM oxidizes and loses carbon (decarburization), leaving a soft, scaled skin you have to grind back past. Sealing the blade in SSTW 309 stainless tool wrap keeps oxygen off the steel through the soak and quench, so it comes out of the kiln bright with full hardness right to the edge — less post-heat-treat grinding, no decarb surprises.
154CM foil FAQ
Do I need stainless foil to heat treat 154CM?
Wrapping 154CM in stainless tool wrap before the kiln prevents surface scale and decarburization, so the blade comes out clean with the carbon at the edge intact. It is strongly recommended for 154CM, especially for air- and plate-quenched work where the blade sits at temperature.
Which SSTW grade should I use for 154CM — 309 or 321?
154CM austenitizes around 2050°F — above ~2000°F — so 309 stainless foil holds up to the heat and longer soaks without embrittling.
What temperature is 154CM heat treated at?
154CM is commonly austenitized around 1950–2050°F with a 15–30 min soak, then plate quench, then cryo and tempered (300–400°F, 2× 2 hr). Always confirm against the steel mill's published data sheet for your exact stock — these figures are general knifemaking guidance.
Can I use 321 foil for 154CM?
321 works for many sub-2000°F heat treats, but 154CM runs hot enough that 309 stainless foil is the safer choice — it tolerates the higher austenitizing temperature and longer soaks without embrittling.
Ready to heat treat 154CM clean?
SSTW Grade 309 stainless tool wrap, sold by the roll and shipped from the USA.
Shop tool wrap rolls