David W Babcock
Black Metal Forge
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
- Messages
- 80
I’d try to help but I have little experien
I’d try to help but unfortunately have little experience with 3V. I have used some CPM steel primarily CPM 154. The only advice I can give is on anything less than 1/8” thickness you probably want to heat treat before grinding. I know some makers have success with thin steel and just air cooling as with stainless you get 2-2.5 min depending on the steel to skip the pearlite nose. Unlike carbon steels that need very quick temperature drops. I however due to the high austenite temps (stainless usually needs a 5-15 min soak at 1900-2000 deg, I use a kiln for this) I find even moving it around if thin it might warp.
I’d suggest a plate quench (2 pieces of milled aluminum 1.5” thick by however wide/long you want. Mine are actually 2”x5”x18” for larger pieces, but I make some big knives!) in two min with that thickness you’ll be fine and it will prevent warpage.
Then grind and polish, after temper (stainless usually lower 300’s unless doing a chopper so based on your thickness probably in the neighborhood of 300-350 at least twice for an hour but better to do twice at two hours). Watch your blade heat after tempering, when grinding dip in water often if no cooling mist set up.
ok just pulled up crucibles page...lol this is why it’s important to understand the steel your working with. They are suggesting much much higher temper temps like 1000 deg.
here’s the link but do a forum search on 3V from the forum, maybe someone here has a good deal of experience that I don’t have!
https://www.crucible.com/eselector/prodbyapp/tooldie/cpm3vt.html
If your an ama
If you’re an amateur do you have the necessary equipment for this steel I should have asked first! When I started out I dropped a pile on some SN35V and it took a few years before I had the equipment myself without having to send it out for heat treatment!
Some stainless require dry ice sub zero or even liquid nitrogen to help remove retained austenite and get the most of the steel! I didn’t see this on this particular steel in crucibles sheet! You might want to try something easier and a little cheaper like CPM 154 or AEB-L/Nitro V first
OK, thanks for your help. as mentioned I'm new to forums and certainly green in this one. Just an amateur redneck trying to learn.
I’d try to help but unfortunately have little experience with 3V. I have used some CPM steel primarily CPM 154. The only advice I can give is on anything less than 1/8” thickness you probably want to heat treat before grinding. I know some makers have success with thin steel and just air cooling as with stainless you get 2-2.5 min depending on the steel to skip the pearlite nose. Unlike carbon steels that need very quick temperature drops. I however due to the high austenite temps (stainless usually needs a 5-15 min soak at 1900-2000 deg, I use a kiln for this) I find even moving it around if thin it might warp.
I’d suggest a plate quench (2 pieces of milled aluminum 1.5” thick by however wide/long you want. Mine are actually 2”x5”x18” for larger pieces, but I make some big knives!) in two min with that thickness you’ll be fine and it will prevent warpage.
Then grind and polish, after temper (stainless usually lower 300’s unless doing a chopper so based on your thickness probably in the neighborhood of 300-350 at least twice for an hour but better to do twice at two hours). Watch your blade heat after tempering, when grinding dip in water often if no cooling mist set up.
ok just pulled up crucibles page...lol this is why it’s important to understand the steel your working with. They are suggesting much much higher temper temps like 1000 deg.
here’s the link but do a forum search on 3V from the forum, maybe someone here has a good deal of experience that I don’t have!
https://www.crucible.com/eselector/prodbyapp/tooldie/cpm3vt.html
If your an ama
OK, thanks for your help. as mentioned I'm new to forums and certainly green in this one. Just an amateur redneck trying to learn.
If you’re an amateur do you have the necessary equipment for this steel I should have asked first! When I started out I dropped a pile on some SN35V and it took a few years before I had the equipment myself without having to send it out for heat treatment!
Some stainless require dry ice sub zero or even liquid nitrogen to help remove retained austenite and get the most of the steel! I didn’t see this on this particular steel in crucibles sheet! You might want to try something easier and a little cheaper like CPM 154 or AEB-L/Nitro V first