120WV10 is a European high-carbon, low-alloy water-hardening tool steel, corresponding to DIN 120WV4 and Werkstoffnummer 1.2516. With carbon around 1.20% and a small tungsten-vanadium addition (roughly 1% W, 0.1% V) and only trace chromium, it follows the same design logic as W210 but with more carbon and a bit more tungsten for extra wear resistance. The added tungsten forms fine, hard carbides that improve abrasion resistance over a plain water-hardening grade, while the vanadium keeps grain size fine during hardening, supporting a clean, sharp-edged as-quenched microstructure.

Water quenched from the correct temperature, 120WV10 develops a very high surface hardness — typically in the 64-66 HRC range — over a tougher, lower-carbon-equivalent core, the classic water-hardening profile. That makes it well suited to tooling that needs a hard, wear-resistant working edge but doesn't need to be hard through a large cross-section: blanking punches, small dies, forming tools, and other cold-work tooling with thin working sections. As with any shallow-hardening grade, it is not the right choice where full-section hardness or high toughness under shock loading is required.

120WV10 is the trade/AFNOR-family designation commonly cross-referenced to this DIN 120WV4 / Wnr 1.2516 water-hardening tungsten-vanadium tool steel.

Machinability tracks closely with carbon content here: at 1.20% carbon, 120WV10 cuts harder than the lower-carbon W210 and requires a bit more attention to feeds and edge condition, though it is still far easier to machine than a heavily alloyed cold-work grade. In the annealed condition (roughly 220-240 HB) the tungsten carbides present add modest abrasiveness, but the alloy content is low enough that standard carbide tooling machines it without unusual difficulty.

Like other water-hardening grades, essentially all of the demanding machining work on 120WV10 happens before hardening. Once water-quenched to 64-66 HRC, only grinding is practical — the case is too hard and too shallow for conventional turning or milling. When machining in the annealed state, keep feeds moderate and edges sharp to avoid burnishing or work-hardening the surface, which can create problems for later quenching uniformity.

Speeds below are for the annealed condition (~220-240 HB), which is how this steel is machined prior to water hardening.

Milling

Turning, parting, and grooving grade recommendations for 120WV10 are not on file for this material yet. Browse the full turning/parting collection below for a grade suited to your hardness and finish requirements.