80CRV2 Prototype Test Blade

Rick Marchand

Rick Marchand

Donkey on the Edge
Moderator
Joined
Jan 6, 2005
Messages
9,680
In other words, I'm keepin' this one;)

Aldo slipped me a sample piece of what he calls 80CRV2 and describes as 5160 on steroids...

C=0.80%, Mn=0.40%, Cr=0.50%, V=0.20%

My intention is quite simply, to make a bush knife and beat the crap out of it... for educational purposes only, of course:thumbup:

If anyone has an idea of the HT for this composition feel free to give me a run down. As it stands I am going to treat this like 1080 with a bit of a soak...

Austenize at 1500F, 20 minute soak, quench in HQ-K, temper at 425F.

Here is the piece he gave me...
IMG_0014-5.jpg


I cut a section .180" x 3" x 12"...
IMG_0015-8.jpg

IMG_0016-8.jpg


I wanted a longer "test subject" so I upset/drew it to .220" x 1.75" x 18"
IMG_0017-7.jpg

IMG_0018-5.jpg

IMG_0019-5.jpg

IMG_0024-6.jpg


It is getting annealled tonight..... more to come...



Rick
 
Ok, Rick....you can go ahead and post more progress anytime now;) Consider my attention grabbed buddy!
 
For what it's worth, your austenitizing and temper sound about right to me. *shrug*

Having been up to forging heats, I have no idea of the proper normalizing, but the typical descending heats might do the trick.

Vanadium can complicate things a little, what are your thoughts on grain refinement and carbide distribution?
 
Interesting Rick -- I looked up 80CRV2, and it's AISI L2 "saw steel". Basically L6 without the nickel, or high carbon (.8%) 5160.

http://www.metalravne.com/selector/steels/OL2SP.html


Description
Low alloyed Cr-V cold working tool steel

Applications
Circular saws for timber, saws for non ferrous, machine saws, measuring tools, tools for wood working, axes, knives, punches, guide rods, twist drill, reamers, ejector pins, dentist's drills.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
For what it's worth, your austenitizing and temper sound about right to me. *shrug*

Having been up to forging heats, I have no idea of the proper normalizing, but the typical descending heats might do the trick.

Vanadium can complicate things a little, what are your thoughts on grain refinement and carbide distribution?
Click to expand...

After the anneal, I will rough shape the profile then give it a quench or two (it is hypoeutectoid so I think the 1500F should get everything into solution.) A few descending low-heat normalizations after that should set it up pretty well. The vanadium should give the refined grain some stability for the final quench. My final heat will be at 1475F with a bit of soak time, seeing as how the structure will be refined from the previous steps. Don't wanna undo what I already dun did!:D

Rick
 
Last edited:
Wow, I just got off on a 1Hr reading tangent on Vanadium... Really looking forward to the continuation Rick!
 
lazlo said:
Interesting Rick -- I looked up 80CRV2, and it's AISI L2 "saw steel". Basically L6 without the nickel, or high carbon (.8%) 5160.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I thought too!... L6 w/o Nicklel... I knew I should have put that in the post.



Rick
 
I like L6. Will be interested to see how this works out for you.

Are you using an electric furnace to heat treat? I ask because it might be cool to bring it up to heat slowly and simply watch for the decalescence point. Probably not that scientific but at least you'll have visual confirmation that it has reached austenizing temp...
 
I have a digitally controlled electric kiln but I hate opening up the door and letting all that air in.... but that might be pretty cool to observe.
 
Last edited:
Cool, will have to bookmark this one! I like your band saw cut with the marking line, good to see I'm not alone...
 
It's not L-2 .It's higher carbon than L-2. In any case it should make a good blade .V is for finer grain. Let us know .
 
It occurs to me that this doesn't look terribly different from CruForgeV (which is listed as 1.05 C, .75 Mn, .5 Cr, and .75 V). With that in mind, here is Dan Farr's HT recipe for CFV, as forwarded to me by Matthew Gregory who reports excellent, nearly fool-proof results:

1 - forge to shape, heat to red and stick in vermiculite.
2 - rough grind/ mill shoulders
3 - normalize 3 times. cool to room temp between heats.
4 - heat in furnace at 1500 for 10 minutes. quench in oil.
5 - cool to room temp, put in freezer until cool then in Liquid N2 overnight.
6 - 2 hour temper at 410
7 - use torch to draw back to blue with edge in water. cool to room temp. repeat for 3 times total.
8 - 2 hour temper at 415
9 - 2 hour temper at 415
Click to expand...

Hope this helps. I'm no HT expert Rick, but it looks like your temps/times for the 80CRV2 should be pretty darn good.

EDIT: I would advise getting pretty close to your final dimensions and finish before hardening, I'm told CFV is a pain to finish, and I damn sure know CPM-3V is. Vanadium carbides will do that. :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
I think I'll cut a few coupons to run through some HT tests prior to doing the blade.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top