W112 (Wnr. 1.1663) is a high-carbon, water-hardening tool steel from the AISI W-group — the simplest and oldest family of tool steels, built on carbon content alone rather than heavy alloying. With roughly 1.15-1.30% carbon and only trace alloying elements, it hardens by a fast water quench and develops a characteristically shallow hardened case: a very hard, wear-resistant skin over a comparatively soft, tough core. That combination is exactly what many cold-working tools need — a keen, hard cutting or striking surface backed by a core that won't shatter under repeated impact.

Because the hardening response depends on rapid water quenching rather than alloy content, W112 is limited to smaller sections and tools where shallow hardening is acceptable or even desirable. It's a traditional choice for hand tools, cold header and heading dies, punches, chisels, and other simple tooling where a hard working surface, good polishability, and low cost matter more than deep through-hardness or high-temperature performance.

In its spheroidize-annealed condition (typically around 183-217 HB), W112 is one of the easier tool steels to machine — the high carbon content keeps it firm enough to avoid gumminess, while the near-total absence of alloy carbides means abrasive tool wear stays modest compared with chromium- or vanadium-alloyed grades. Chip formation is generally short and well-controlled, which is typical of high-carbon steels at this hardness.

Because W112 hardens by water quench to a shallow case rather than through-hardening, shops normally complete all machining in the annealed state and only water-quench the finished tool afterward, sometimes leaving a light grinding allowance to clean up any quench distortion on critical surfaces. There's no intermediate turning or milling once the part is hardened — work on the hardened case is limited to grinding.

A sharp, wear-resistant coated carbide edge with a positive rake keeps cutting forces low and finish clean on this grade. Because the material work-hardens somewhat if the tool is allowed to rub rather than cut, maintaining a consistent feed rate and avoiding dull or worn inserts helps prevent surface hardening that would complicate subsequent passes.