01 steel, carbon loss forging

[peppen108]

I'm a rather slow blade smith and often spend over an hour on a bowie sized blade. Is there any info on how much carbon on could expect to lose forging 01 tool steel (1/4" to 3/8" stock)?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is only lost at the surface. The amount is normally insignificant when making a knife blade. After the blade is forged, the lower carbon layer is ground away in finishing. The final steel in the blade will be nearly the same as the original steel.

 

[Ashenforge]

Just use charcoal while forging and everything will be okay

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is pretty much a folk story that using coke or charcoal adds carbon back into the steel by carburizing. A properly adjusted propane forge is the same as a properly running charcoal forge.

 

[peppen108]

Thanks