HSS, HSS-Co & "KK" ??

[Tony]

hi folks..
i scored a small box of HSS squares and rounds at a local auction..

some of them are marked "HSS"
some of them are marked "HSS-Co"
and some of them are marked "KK"

anyone have *ANY* idea what KK might be?
it looks just like HSS ... the grain
looks a little longer.. but thats the
only stretch i can make in describing
the things.

they're stamped with dimensions just
like the other HSS stock (10x10x200mm)

i'll be using these for grinding lathe tooling.

thanks,
-tony

[Tony]

ps.. can anyone tell me what the difference is between plain old vanilla HSS and HSS-Co?

is HSS-Co better for some applications?

-tony

[G.A. Ewen]

Can't help you with the "KK" but HSS+Cobalt bits seem to stay sharper and take more heat than plain HSS. (in my experience)

[Evan]

Best guess is that KK is for K.K. Calamar, a manufacturer of machine tools like grinders and lapping machines.

[Tony]

Sorry, I neglected to mention two things:

1) I am in Europe. i'm guessing the usual HSS i buy is import.. so "HSS" is market also for US/UK markets. This stuff is italian made.. so "KK" is probably an ISO or DIN equivalent of something else i could understand (but i can't find it anywhere)

2) the manufacturer is C&C .. their logo is marked on the bars in two little diamonds side by side.

are there any good website out there, maybe, for conversion of steel designations?

thanks
-tony