Chugunenie?

[nozh2002]

Just read about interesting technoogy in First Russian Forum. To heat blade before quenching, deep it into melted cast-iron (chugun in Russian). In result blade surfase gain carbon fron cast-iron and this makes it better.
Does anybody use this? Is it really works?
Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Vassili, The heat neccesary to melt iron is way more than we need to heat treat, forge or even forge weld a blade. I melted iron once by accident with my first forge. It had way too much blower and propane mix. It sounded like a jet taking off. It wouldnt be practical to melt that much iron for the simple reason of adding more carbon since more carbon isnt needed in the already hi-carbon steels we have available and fair prices. We use much quicker and easier ways to bring the blade up to quenching heat. I just dont see any advantage unless I worked at an iron mill and used the free heat on my lunch hour. Those Russian makers are an interesting bunch.

 

[nozh2002]

Result of this operation is non sticky blade with very good edge, even from regular steel. So it is not about heating it quick and easy. As I understand - surface of the blade may have way more carbon then body can have.
I am speculating because I do not have real numbers, but what if it has 3% carbon on the surface?
Thanks, Vassili

 

[etp777]

May give a sharp blade, but I can't see it giving a good strong blade. Melting point of Iron is 2745F(1525C). Can't remember exact temps on high carbon alloys I've used, but I don'tthink I've seen a transformation temp. on any of them higher than maybe 1750F(954C). 1000F(555C) degrees over this is going to give some nasty grain growth, at least in my limited experience heat treating knives. Heck, I don't think I've ever manged to get a knife over 2000F(1093C) at the most, and have one on end table out there that cracked, and it looks like pyrite the grain is so big. That's to the naked eye, never bothered getting out loupe, it was obviously way too big even without getting that out.