Annealing damascus steel

S

steierknives

BOUNCED EMAIL: I need to update my email address in my profile!
Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Messages
139
Once in a while I come upon a piece of damascus steel that won't saw, drill, etc. I was wondering how to anneal this steel. Someone once told me to take it up to heat treating temperature, let it soak for a while, then turn the oven off, letting the steel stay in until the oven comes down to room temperature. Will this work, or is there another way?

Thanks,
Dave
 
I learned this from Bill Burke. I heat in the forge at 800 to 1000 F for a few minutes and than put it in the vermiculite till it cools to room temp and find that it works like butter after that.

Not sure if it works on all steels. I use 1084 and 15n20.
 
Contact the maker of the steel and see what they recommend for that particular mix. some steel mixes require a true anneal not just a normalize.
Del
 
Thanks again. I'm not sure which steels are in them. The latest was a piece of Thunderforge steel. If I didn't have a carbide drill, I never would have gotten a hole drilled. I've also had some problem with Eggerling at the end of the bar. It would save on the saw blade to be able to get them annealed.
 
Unless they have changed Thunderforged is 01 and 1095. I have had bad luck with their steel because it wasnt properly normalized and annealed (if at all)
Anyway my favorite method is to take it to 1350 and hold for 1 hour and let it cool in the oven. It really cools slow if there is some thick steel in with it to help hold the heat for several hours.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top