8670 heat treat

[rodriguez7]

Im making a nice backpacking chopper out of this steel, and looking for extreme durability. Should I just use the standard 1500/400 with this steel? What kind of soak times? I’m heat treating it in an atlas mini forge. So I can only get somewhat close, not exact. I have parks 50 and canola, which would be best? Thanks.

 

[samuraistuart]

You sure can use 1500/400. I prefer 1525f, 10 minute soak total (probably closer to an 7-8 minute soak, somewhat harder to do in a forge tho), and 130f canola. P50 is technically too fast for this alloy, but certainly doable. I am pleased with how stable this steel is in oil quench...no warping issues (as of yet). Very clean steel, too. Polishes beautifully. Very very tough even at high hardness (62+ 350f tempers)

 

[Don Hanson III]

I use a bunch of this steel, as in old saw blades. We use a forge to heat with no soak, quench in Parks 50 and temper two hours twice at 400. Hardness usually between 60-62 Rc. Great performance! Here is a shot of a few we've made this year.

 

[DevinT]

Those are awesome Don!

Hoss

 

[Don Hanson III]

Those are awesome Don!

Hoss

Thanks Hoss! We've made over a hundred of them in the last year. My brother & son help with these.

 

[rodriguez7]

Sweet, thanks for the replies. Don, you heat to non magnetic, then quench? With no soak?

 

[Don Hanson III]

Sweet, thanks for the replies. Don, you heat to non magnetic, then quench? With no soak?

Slightly above non-magnetic, no soak really, but one or two minutes to get a nice even heat.

 

[rodriguez7]

Nice, I’ll give it a shot. Have you tested any blades to failure?

 

[Don Hanson III]

Nice, I’ll give it a shot. Have you tested any blades to failure?

Yes, have broke a couple, tough & very fine grain. I had some edge damage on a cleaver, edge was just too thin for heavy chopping at high hardness. Ground the edge back a bit and tempered at 425, no more damage chopping fossil walrus & antler.

 

[Geoff Flato]

Yes, have broke a couple, tough & very fine grain. I had some edge damage on a cleaver, edge was just too thin for heavy chopping at high hardness. Ground the edge back a bit and tempered at 425, no more damage chopping fossil walrus & antler.

Only you would have enough scraps of walrus laying around to use it for testing knives lol

 

[Don Hanson III]

Only you would have enough scraps of walrus laying around to use it for testing knives lol

I have more fossil ivory scrap than stag scrap. lol

 

[Geoff Flato]

I have more fossil ivory scrap than stag scrap. lol

He'll I'd be using that for inlays...
Mind you it really depends what you have piles of laying around. I've started using rosewood, lignum vitae, and stag for file handles