CPM 154 spring temper

T

Taximanny

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
Messages
460
Been a while since I worked with CPM 154, and now having some trouble.

After heat treating the blade and spring at 1975 for 40 min.
I placed the blade in a dry ice and alcohol slurry.

I than took the spring and started the temper at 1140 twice for two hours.
I than tempered the blade twice at 400 for two hours.

Now when I'm assembling the knife, the spring keeps scratching where it rides on the tang of the blade.

I've polished the foot of the spring and the tang to a mirror finish, yet it keeps doing it after a few openings and closings.

The only thing I can gather is that the spring is too soft.

The only thing I changed this time was to temper the spring at 1140
And my notes before stated that I tempered at 1100

Would that make this big of issue?
Another thing is I don't remember if I needed to put the spring in the dry ice slurry with the blade.
Before moving on to tempering.

Here's a pic of what's going on. http://[URL=http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/Msal463033/media/Mobile%20Uploads/0069FB62-B82F-4833-8120-D093474C9C2A_zps4uswkhcf.jpg.html][/URL]
 
Is it scratching or galling and getting sticky?
I've had better luck with a 400 or 600 grit finish and a small dab of grease to work them in and break them in together. I always had galling problems taking the finish higher and other makers recommended not doing a mirror polish.
 
Last edited:
Yes galling

After reading on this more I'm thinking I needed to temper the blade at 450 rather than 400.
Gonna try that today, and see what happens.
 
The blade is hard and the spring is softer ... the softer one will wear. This is normal.

If the metal is galling, something is digging at it or it is greatly too soft.
Check the heel of the blade well for a micro rough spot or scratch ... especially as it transitions across the high spot to the flat seat. Polish the heel well, as it is the moving surface. Make sure that both surfaces are sanded and polished with the direction of the abrasion in the same direction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top