5160 HT protocol.

valcas1

valcas1

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
934
I am trying to learn as much as I can about heat treating 5160 for a large blade I am in the process of making.

I understand that heat treating recipes are somewhat like grandmas winning apple pie recipe. It takes some folks years to perfect it and get the most out of the steel.

If any of the makers here would care to share your secret 5160 HT recipe with a newbie, it would be greatly appreciated. If not, just tell me to "go fish" I will understand.

Thank again

Paul
 
I like to heat the blade up to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit and quench in transmission oil that's heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Then for a long blade, I temper it for two hours at 425, let it cool and repeat the proses of tempering for two hours at 425. If your blade is small then temper at a lower temperature like 400 so the blade will be a little harder. That is my proses.
 
Basically the same as Kyle. Heat to 1475-1500, quench in oil, I use vegetable oil. Clean and temper at 400 for two hours. One hour each time and allow to cool between. Then I draw the back and the tang with a torch and water bath for a hard edge, spring back, and soft tang.
 
Forge it first! 3x normalizations from above critical; 4th time into vermiculite for 6 hours.
Rough grind it to at least 400 grit. Then, stress-relieve at 1200 for an hour.
3x sub-critical normalizations, then heat to 1550 until equalized. No soak!
Triple quench into Parks AAA @ 160 F.
Temper 3x at 350 F, 2 hours each.
 
BRTATCK said:
Basically the same as Kyle. Heat to 1475-1500, quench in oil, I use vegetable oil. Clean and temper at 400 for two hours. One hour each time and allow to cool between. Then I draw the back and the tang with a torch and water bath for a hard edge, spring back, and soft tang.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that Brion.

Also since I forge I have to normalize the steel before heat treating. The way I do that is I put it in my heat treating oven and set it to go to 1450 and cool at a rate of 100 degrees an hour until it gets to be about 200. That will almost guarantee that the steel will not warp, have a large grain or do anything I don't want it to do.
 
Same as every one else, 1500* and then into the oil. I knock off the decarb with the grinder before I temper. I temper at 375-400 depending on the size and use. 2hrs 2 times.

I would like to add that your temper temp will vary with the oven you use. you may have to test it a few times to get it right. Unless of course you have a HT oven that is spot on.
 
Oh a little tip that I learned to tell when your blade is about to be 1500* is to keep some table salt by the forge. It melts/boils at around 1475*, so if you sprinkle a bit on the hot blade and it doesn't melt get it back in the forge. And I like to soak mine for just a couple of minutes at 1500* just to make sure.
 
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I just gotta chime in on that table salt thing... That's just cool! :cool:I'm going to try that the next time I work with 5160. Good info!:thumbup:
 
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