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5160 Steel
- Thread starter hawk18
- Start date
Glad too (5160).
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Although I have not annealed 5160 here is what I have for that: (for spheroidized) heat to 1380 F, cool rapidly to 1300 F, then cool to 1200 F at a rate not exceeding 10 F per hour; or heat to 1380 F , cool rapidly to 1250 F and hold 10 hours.
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I will spare the regular precautions that I usually shout about and only give the basic specs as I have them.
For knife thickness:
I normalize at 1150 F / 3 minutes and then ramp at maximumum rate to 1600 F / 2 minutes.
Still air cool, or oven cool to a temperature less likely to warp the steel when removing from oven and then remove, to room temp.
Repeat above normalize two, at least, or three times.
Pre-heat: ramp rate of 450 F per hour (quicker for thinner steel), 1150 F / 5 to 7 minutes then ramp as fast as possible to austenitize.
Austenitize: 1525 F / 7 minutes
Warm oil quench to hand warm.
Temper: 400 F / 1 hour
Temper 375 F / 1 hour
(I have snap tempered after quench at 300 F / 1 hour and then cryo'd before temper. Cryo may not benefit 5160 well or at all because of its relative low carbon content but it will not hurt if the means to cryo are available. It may be best to drop snap temper a little below 300 F before cryo but the lower the greater the chance of fracture during quick cooling).
RL
_________________
Although I have not annealed 5160 here is what I have for that: (for spheroidized) heat to 1380 F, cool rapidly to 1300 F, then cool to 1200 F at a rate not exceeding 10 F per hour; or heat to 1380 F , cool rapidly to 1250 F and hold 10 hours.
--------------------
I will spare the regular precautions that I usually shout about and only give the basic specs as I have them.
For knife thickness:
I normalize at 1150 F / 3 minutes and then ramp at maximumum rate to 1600 F / 2 minutes.
Still air cool, or oven cool to a temperature less likely to warp the steel when removing from oven and then remove, to room temp.
Repeat above normalize two, at least, or three times.
Pre-heat: ramp rate of 450 F per hour (quicker for thinner steel), 1150 F / 5 to 7 minutes then ramp as fast as possible to austenitize.
Austenitize: 1525 F / 7 minutes
Warm oil quench to hand warm.
Temper: 400 F / 1 hour
Temper 375 F / 1 hour
(I have snap tempered after quench at 300 F / 1 hour and then cryo'd before temper. Cryo may not benefit 5160 well or at all because of its relative low carbon content but it will not hurt if the means to cryo are available. It may be best to drop snap temper a little below 300 F before cryo but the lower the greater the chance of fracture during quick cooling).
RL
- Joined
- Nov 27, 1999
- Messages
- 3,745
As usual, Rodger has his facts straight. I would like to add that 5160 is a friendly steel. It will allow you to do some downright stupid things and still give an acceptable edge.
I also like to temper at a somewhat lower temperature. I temper at 325 for 2 hours and if the edge is too brittle, jump to 350 for another 2 hours. I very rarely find it necessary to go above 350.
I also like to temper at a somewhat lower temperature. I temper at 325 for 2 hours and if the edge is too brittle, jump to 350 for another 2 hours. I very rarely find it necessary to go above 350.