ACID Etch

F

Frank Eaton

Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
362
This is my first etched blade, I have never really been aware of the temper line. On the tip end the surface is very smooth, handle end of the temper line is a much rougher texture, but it was sanded with the same process. How do you know if you have done this right?
 
Hard to tell from the picture. But at the transition line its normal to see some differance in grain structure. Did you quench with the blade normalized or annealed ?
 
The two most likely things it could be that I can think of are grain growth or alloy banding. If it's grain growth it's not a good thing, but alloy banding isn't at all bad as far as I know, just a matter of taste if you like the look or not (I do, it reminds me of wootz).

Now, how to tell which one it is? I donno, wish I did so I'd know if what the one I made with something like that was. Only way I know of to know for sure besides a lab test would be to break it and look at the grain. You can make an educated guess though based on how you treated the steel. If you got it really hot near the end of your forging and for quench then grain growth is likely, if you thermal cycled alot then alloy banding is more likely.

If you didn't anneal it that doesn't mean it's normalized. Normalizing is when you heat it to non-magnetic then let air cool. It relieves stress in the steel and makes the grain smaller. It's always a good idea to normalize a few times before you quench, it makes warps much less likely in addition to/because of the grain reduction and stress relief.
 
Thanks for that info. Maybe if I give you a little more info you could tell me which of the 2 possibilities I have. It is O1, and is a stock removal job. I heated with a torch to non mag, and quench in veg oil. What do you think?
 
Did you quench it all the way in the oil,or part way in?Were yiou doing an edge quench?Did you heat the blade hotter than the tang/ricasso?
A torch is a bit uncontroled for bringing it up to critical temp.My guess is a difference in grain due to an under heated ricasso,or an intereupted quench.O-1 can be a bit fussy about the temperature at quench.My suggestion would be to normalize it twice and requench.Be sure to draw the temper right after hardening.
 
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