Oct 7, 2026Buying Guides
CR-V vs S2 Tool Steel: What the Grades Mean in Hand Tools
Catalogs throw around CR-V, S2 and M35 as quality markers. Here is what each stated grade means for screwdrivers, hex keys and drill bits in a B2B order.
Why steel grade is the first spec to check
In hand-tool catalogs, the steel grade printed next to a model number is the fastest proxy for expected durability and price tier. Three grades recur across the JX catalog's screwdriver, hex-key and drill ranges: CR-V on the tester screwdriver and screwdriver lines, S2 alloy steel on hex keys and the Taiwan-S2 screwdriver line, and M35 steel on the twist drill range.
CR-V: the workhorse for blades
Chrome-vanadium steel (CR-V) balances hardness and toughness, which is why it appears on tester screwdriver blades in the JX catalog together with mirror-finish chrome plating, while the CR-V screwdriver lines note blade shafts with hardened quenching heat treatment. For distributor ranges aimed at general hardware retail, the catalog pairs CR-V blades with heat-resistant PP handles across its tester and screwdriver lines.
S2: the upgrade for hex keys and high-torque work
S2 tool steel shows up on the hex key pages, where the catalog calls out full-branch heat treatment, high torque and durability on the S2 ball-end keys - a combination aimed at buyers who need keys that survive assembly-line use. The Taiwan-S2 screwdriver line states S2 tool steel with a red-tempering process and strong magnetic properties, and the catalog's box-end wrench set carries an S2 badge on the same page.
M35 cobalt steel for cutting metal
The drill page states M35 steel contains cobalt and is fully ground, and lists the straight-shank twist drill range (models around 2.0 mm to 13 mm) as suitable for stainless steel, mold steel and aluminum alloy as well as wood and plastic. When comparing quotations, align the steel grade first: an S2 hex key set and a CR-V set will not wear the same way, and a fully ground M35 drill is a different product from a generic rolled bit.
When you request your next quotation, align steel grades first: send the ranges you stock and ask which grades back each model - the catalog prints the steel grade on its tester, screwdriver, hex-key and drill pages.
