annealing: vermiculite temp?

R

Ramir

Joined
Apr 16, 2005
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3
Good day, gentlemans. help me, pls, in annealing. Many peoples heat up his blades to non-magnetic and cool it slowly in vermiculite or wooden ash.
my question is: have I heat up the vermiculite or wooden ash before I place a blade into it? or, vermiculite/ash can be at a room temperature?
Thanks.
 
Room temp and dry. Just make sure you have enough to hold the heat in the steel. If its doing the job the steel should be to hot to touch after 8 hours or longer.
 
For best results heat some thick pieces of steel with the blade and sandwich it between them. Place all together in the vermiculite. It will hold the heat longer.
 
I've seen floor dry or kitty litter use effectively for an insulating medium; its cheaper and more readily availible. Thermal mass has alot to do with how slow it cools. Bruce's suggestion is dead on. You might try a forge anneal. Load up your forge when you are done forging and block off the forge doors. I find that the most convenient. 1250 degrees F for about ten minutes will give you a fair anneal; not quite as soft but very close, 5 points RC scale...Take Care...Ed
 
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