59.5 Rc - ATS-34

R

rlinger

Joined
Mar 29, 2002
Messages
4,591
Just had this Rockwell'd.
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Equalize: 1450 F. / 7 minutes

Austinitize: 1965 F. / 25 minutes

Rapid air quench to handling temp.

Still air cool to room temp.

Deep cryo immediately / 18 hours (doubt if it needed to go that long)

Still air warm to room temp.

Temper: 950 F. / 2 hours 15 minutes

Still air cool to room temp.

Temper again: 950 F. / 2 hours 15 minutes
-------------------------------

Rockwell tested 3 different areas just rear of ricasso.
At the top (near spine): 59 Rc
At bottom (level with edge): 60 Rc
At bottom (opposite side, level with edge): 59.5 Rc

We called it 59.5

RL
 
For the air quench I did something diffrent and, I like it. I simply took two 2 lb. coffee cans (with the bottoms cut out) and duct taped them together. I then afixed a high volume fan to the bottom of the assembly. With it running and close enough to the oven that I did not have to move but one step to lower the foil packet into the can, it quenched rapidly and I was always able to keep the packet 'point down'. I am going to make a permanent wind tunnel designed after this cludged one.

Someone here was telling me (wish I could remember so as to give proper credit) that he does this, except that instead of a fan at the bottom he lowers a air compressor hose into the can assembly.

RL
 
Years ago I had a corrosion problem with ATS-34. I studied heat treating sheets and talked to other makers and decided to drop my temper temp to the low scale. Not had a problem with it since. The Hitachi sheet I have shows both high and low temps.
 
Kit,

Can you send me to a site where I can see that Hitachi sheet??

EDIT: And, what Rc value do you shoot for with the lower temper temp.?? Since ATS-34 is secondary hardening, I will just guess that you are around 57 Rc (?). But then I don't know.

Thanks.

Roger
 
I've closed up for the night but I'll scan the Hitachi sheets and get them to you tomorrow.
 
Roger,
I sent you a care package yesterday.I included some walrus cheek ,a mooose beam a and a few other suprises.
Chuck
 
Chuck,

My mother doesn't treat me that well! Am I going to have to inlay this thing with diamonds :D :D ;)
 
Upon receiving Kit's post, etc., I did a little web search and came up with this also: http://www.planet.eon.net/~matth/ATS34.htm

Converting temperatures shows me I was at the higher end of the tempering range and that my austinization was close to that used. It is note worthy, also, that I had been cutting back on my austinization temperatures and way back on austinization time since the first time I had worked ATS34. I had been going by a well known publication in the beginning and had been tweaking it since. I think now that my current austinization temp. is good or very close and that my time is probably good but that tempering temperatures may best be lowered. It appears that may increase corrosion resistance and perhaps toughness. All will also have to marry up with desired hardness.

Another thing that has been on my mind and I had not before mentioned is that we also Rockwell'd the tip area of tang. It tested 58 HRc. The operator commented that it must have been because it was thinnner there. I never did buy that. I wondered about oven heat consistency because I always place the blade part of knife at center of oven and that puts the tang closer to the oven door. I am guessing though that the difference between 59 - 60 and 58 Rc is more because the tang tip was further away from cool air flow during quench, as the steel was held tang tip up during that.

Since I posted my thread for the only reason of sharing I feel it essential that I post this also to go along with it.

RL
 
Just this evening (07/08/03) I put an edge on the blade that started this thread. The edge angle is 20 degrees. It began real good because it took an easy edge and I already knew it tested 59.5 Rc just behind the ricasso. When it honed easy I knew it might be good.

I tested this edge this evening with cardboard. It is important to know I did all cutting in a slicing manner so as to try to use all the edge length, as opposed to using only a portion of edge length. All cardboard I really had handy was pop packs and a couple 24 pack beer cartons. That's the type cardboard I cut. I ran out of this cardboard at 230 feet. Still shaves without force. However, to the feel, it is noticable that it has been used. Using a 10X eye loop, I inspected the edge before and after cutting. There was no noticible chipping and I was not able to see any visual difference from before cutting and after cutting 230 feet. I would suggest that there is a visual difference but none that I can notice and there is no chipping as seen from 10X. Leaving the edge as it is I will now put it to some seasoned oak and report back at the bottom of this post - as an 'UPDATE'.

Edit: UPDATE - leaving the edge as it was after cutting the cardboard, I dug out a piece of seasoned oak (can't tell what oak; maybe red, could be white). This piece is fully seasoned and measured 1/2 inch thick by 1 13/16th wide. Cutting one side only, I cut it to a point and back 2 1/4 inches. I first took deep cuts which was very difficult and as the wood cracked I wondered had I broken the knife. After breaking through the first half dozen or so cuts I began to widle (can't spell). I finished with the piece as a triangle (2 1/4 long X 1 13/16 at the base), cutting to a sharp tip at the end of wood. I see no chipping or deformation of edge at 10X and the edge remains close to as sharp as before. It takes a very little force now to shave but only a very little and the difference between 230 feet of cardboard and seasoned oak is not much to the feel. I went back and cut some cardboard scaps to see if I could feel a difference in effort. I could not. There has to be some though and I can not notice it.

Roger
 
Someone here was telling me (wish I could remember so as to give proper credit) that he does this, except that instead of a fan at the bottom he lowers a air compressor hose into the can assembly.

RL [/B][/QUOTE]

I remember that post Rodger it was Dan because I found it very interesting .


Glen in Louisiana
 
Surely I'm not the only curious person here? You start the thread off by saying, "just had this Rockwell'd". Had WHAT Rockwell'ed? I wanna see some pictures, man. :)
 
heatride, Thanks.

Danbo, I can't until Wild Rose makes the sheath. Pics will be posted then. I wish I could do it now.

Roger
 
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