8660 steel for axes?

S

Saul Kokkinos

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Sep 4, 2015
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I've found some 8660 at 44mm round for a very reasonable price, but i'm not sure how suitable it would be for axes. My concern comes from this sentence, from Heat Treater's Guide Companion "The hardenability band is relatively wide, but the hardenability can be very high, actually approaching that of an air-hardening steel."

My concern it that when working on the lips of an axe with it on a drift, you loose heat very quickly, so i'm wondering if cracking would be a problem with this steel?

Any information, or experience forging this steel would be greatly appreciated.

I can also get 4140 quite cheaply, but it has a max as quenched hardness of 55hrc, then after tempering you would be looking at low 50's hrc. I'm thinking i want about 55hrc minimum for the axe, preferably around 58hrc.

Any thoughts on this? I know a lot of people make axes from 4140.

Thanks
 
4140 with inserted cutting bit forge welded in might be worth trying. When you step outside of commonly used steels you must expend time and effort to dial in a new steel. If a steel shares hardening characteristics with air hardening steels a drift or anvil may also cause issues. Hoping that Mete will jump in on this one as he knows a lot about alloy steel. Might be wrong but I think he has stated that 8670 is used for foils and other fencing blades. Only direct report I have seen was recent, maker said it was very hard under the hammer. Recommend looking for a forgeability table and working at high heat, short intervals.
 
Lots of axe type implements are made with 4140 including some pretty pricey tactical hawks.
 
I've made thousands of throwing knives and 36 tomahawks from 8670. It is very tough. I don't forge so I can't comment on that.
 
Thanks Matt, good info. I think i'll order a bit and give it a go, as it looks to be a good steel for axes, if i can work around the forging temp limitations.

Cheers jdm, not really looking to make tactical, car door destroying axes though, more so carving and wood related, with a fine edge.

Thanks Brewster how hard is the 8670 to sharpen? Like compared to o1 or 1084?
 
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