annealed 52100?

[DanL]

Is annealed 52100 harder to grind than annealed o-1? I thought I had it annealed but maybe not?

 

[Ed Fowler]

52100 can and does air harden. To aneal I heat to 1,000 hold for 2 hours then let it cool down slowly in my Paragon. This is not a textbook anneal, but does not grow grain and provides a good hardness for grinding etc.

 

[Epsilon]

DanL,

Whether or not 52100 will be easier to grind in the annealed state than O-1, will largely depend upon the method to place it in that condition. Either one could turn out easier to grind depending upon how the annealing technique was performed.

There may be factory standards available for machinablity in the "annealed" condition, but I am unsure what they are. Plus, keep in mind that the standards are respective to specific, prior heat treating. Instead, ask or have the material hardness tested as a rough indicator of machinability. The softer (lower HRC), the more machinable, generally speaking and only between these two materials as a comparison. Hope that helps you out some.

 

[DanL]

Thank's for the info guy's. A,a,a,a,a,a,Ed I am honored. Thank's DanL

 

[Danbo]

Yes, 52100 can and does air harden. I had a piece of round bar 52100 that a friend of mine smashed flat for me with his hydraulic press. The piece was allowed to cool in a bucket outside his shop. I got the steel home and tried to grind on it. No freakin way! I ended up doing what Ed suggested. Heating it up to a certain temp in a Paragon oven and allowing it to cool slowly. With 52100, you cant get away with allowing it to cool in a bucket of wood ashes or vermiculite. It has to be cooled much slower than that.