15n20 or 8670

[Larrin]

And 115W8 is darn tough to begin with!!!! I was inspired by Murray Carter's "super san mai" which uses 1035 as the cladding and Super Blue as the core. I am not inclined to go the traditional route using a non-hardening cladding steel.

Does he really call it super san mai? What exactly is super about it?

 

[A.McPherson]

I’m betting it’s because he uses Super Blue...

 

[Willie71]

8670 numbers are in, and I’m getting consistent Rc64/65 with austenitizing temps between 1525 and 1600. Going to 1475 starts dropping to the Rc62/63 Range, and going to 1625f or 1650f starts dropping to Rc60/62. 1475f still got Rc65 on a couple readings, but there were some Rc61/62 readings as well. 1500f got the Rc64/65 numbers but there were a couple of Rc62 readings.

So, in summary, I would use 1525-1575f for most consistent results. I only got one reading at Rc66, and that was at 1525f. You basically have a very forgiving steel that will get good results over a 100f Range. With a kiln, set it at 1525f, and go.

Edit: I used DT-48 to quench.

 

[DeadboxHero]

8670 numbers are in, and I’m getting consistent Rc64/65 with austenitizing temps between 1525 and 1600. Going to 1475 starts dropping to the Rc62/63 Range, and going to 1625f or 1650f starts dropping to Rc60/62. 1475f still got Rc65 on a couple readings, but there were some Rc61/62 readings as well. 1500f got the Rc64/65 numbers but there were a couple of Rc62 readings.

So, in summary, I would use 1525-1575f for most consistent results. I only got one reading at Rc66, and that was at 1525f. You basically have a very forgiving steel that will get good results over a 100f Range. With a kiln, set it at 1525f, and go.

You da real MVP!

Was that dt48 quenching as well?

 

[Willie71]

You da real MVP!

Was that dt48 quenching as well?

Yes, all DT-48. I’ll edit the post to make it clear.

 

[rodriguez7]

8670 numbers are in, and I’m getting consistent Rc64/65 with austenitizing temps between 1525 and 1600. Going to 1475 starts dropping to the Rc62/63 Range, and going to 1625f or 1650f starts dropping to Rc60/62. 1475f still got Rc65 on a couple readings, but there were some Rc61/62 readings as well. 1500f got the Rc64/65 numbers but there were a couple of Rc62 readings.

So, in summary, I would use 1525-1575f for most consistent results. I only got one reading at Rc66, and that was at 1525f. You basically have a very forgiving steel that will get good results over a 100f Range. With a kiln, set it at 1525f, and go.

Edit: I used DT-48 to quench.

I’ve been using 1525 with a 10 minute soak, tempering around 350. Did you try parks 50?

 

[Willie71]

I’ve been using 1525 with a 10 minute soak, tempering around 350. Did you try parks 50?

I’m in Canada, and I got the DT-48 from a local supplier. It’s almost identical to Parks 50. It might be just a hair faster than Parks 50.

 

[rodriguez7]

Good to hear! Thanks for your testing.

 

[jdm61]

Not that I know of. I called it that. What I would consider "super" about it is that it doesn't have a mushy noodle cladding.

Does he really call it super san mai? What exactly is super about it?

 

[Natlek]

I love 15n20 it is VERY clean steel that has crazy small grains (when heat treated properly). It’s easy to heat treat and will blow the lid off alot of other beginner easy to heat treat steels in the hardness category. I heat treated a customers 15n20 blade a little bit ago and had to retest the hardness a few times. It was reading 67rc. That’s the hardest I have ever seen a simple easy to heat treat steel get. The great thing is once you drop it into the 62rc range it’s quite tough.

I like that steel too , simple nothing can go wrong with HT .I never had wrap or bend in this steel , no matter how thin I grind blade .This one /3mm/ I quench in brine .............he survived

 

[DeadboxHero]

I like that steel too , simple nothing can go wrong with HT .I never had wrap or bend in this steel , no matter how thin I grind blade .This one /3mm/ I quench in brine .............he survived

Nice blade Natty

 

[Natlek]

Nice blade Natty

Thanks !
Well , finally my son come in shop to see how I make knives He start to work on this machete When I see that tip and curve on his machete I like it and drew this blade ........ Today I grind another one and I m definitely idiot Instead new blade I HT again first one . Luckily survived again contact with brine, now I have two blade to temper

Edit to add...................I do not recommend quenching in brine or water 15n20 steel . I have plenty of this steel for free . It took me 15 minutes to cut and grind this blade.I Don t care too much what would happen ................