Annealing 1084 with

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
3,415
dried mesquite. I am not going to heat treat the steel just soften it up cause I just lost a couple of drill bits. I have plenty of chopped up mesquite wood in my backyard and was thinking of annealing the steel out back in my bbq pit. I think once the wood is ready and with the blower I should be able to get it up to temp and then lay them on a pile of ash and this will get the results I need. Or should I look for charcoal? There are guys who make some but it pops and lets off alot of embers. I searched for this particular question but didn't find what I was looking for. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
put the metal in first then build the fire, let it cool under the ashes, worked on 5160 should work on 1084

Richard
 
Ofcorse it'll work Pancho. you'll just be tempering it to a really low hardness. you'll still wear a drill bit a little more than a properly annealed piece but it'll work... a spot anneal with a torch ( put the blade under water of course) will work to, by bringing the place you want to soften up to a red heat.
 
Are you using Aldo's 1084? It should be soft enough to drill and machine. I suggest grinding off the scale before you drill into it though. If you burning up drill bits you need coolant and gotta learn to sharpen your bits. I have cobalt bits last forever because I keep them cool and sharpen them when they get dull.

What speed are you running your drill press? I like 800 rpm for 3/16" and 1/8" bits.




Btw I got your PM Frank. Things have been very hectic here but I will get back to you soon bud.
 
No biggie Dan. Thanks for the advice guys. The steel is actually the 1/8" 1084 from Admiral steel. I have my drill on the slowest speed and once I start to get the whole tip of the bit into the steel it starts to make that high screeching sound and starts to heat up. I will figure how to sharpen the bits up again and try it again with fluid. I figured the Admiral stuff had issues with being totally annealed.
 
I've annealed 1084 in my fireplace burning hard woods. It gets up to temp no problem. I keep a can full of wood ash and toss it in there overnight.

I also use thread cutting oil (no particular reason, other than I have a bottle laying around) when I drill. Drill a little, back off, drill a little, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top