18" lenght with 0.157" thick CPM3V, should I grinding pre or post heat treat?

S

shqxk

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Mar 26, 2012
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I'm going to make 3V machete but worry about warping.

I will austenitizing at 2000F and quench in 400F molten nitrate salt and straight to cryo.

Not sure if this material have issue about warping? Should I grinding the blade pre or post heat treat?
 
Generally, you want to remove as much as you can pre-heat treat. The only time I wouldn't pre-grind would be if there was going to be significant distal taper, as its too difficult to keep it straight in quench. I plate quench, and still find that full thickness might require some tweaking to get straight, but it's not that difficult, usually. Plate quench to @ 500°, remove from foil and straighten, then water quench. Dry off and into liquid nitrogen.

Good luck!
 
Looks great - I'll bet that will turn out fine. As you're quenching in salts, you should have plenty of time to straighten if it moves on you. Good luck!!!
 
Grinding can introduce stresses that will cause warping. I would prefer to grind , then do a stress relieve @ 1200F fo 2 hours , then HT.
Make sure when austenitizing you don't add any problems . HT on edge so heat is even.
 
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