CPM-3V machete and Peters heat treat

S

shqxk

Joined
Mar 26, 2012
Messages
2,301
I have a couple of CPM-3V machete heading to PHT. But I also have the smaller blade including folder in the same steel (12 in total) going for HT too.

I want smaller blade to be HTed to 61-62rc but I think machete might need a little lower hardness.

Anyone have recommended hardness for this type of blade in this steel? The machete has 15" blade lenght and 0.18" thickness with 2" wide at the widest part. So the ground will be quite thin when finished.

 
First off that's some nice clean grinds ont hose big blades..Id go around 60rc(but now lower)..Ive beat knives to death at 61-62rc in 3v and was amazed at how tuff they are..just my opinion.
 
I would use 3v machete at 61-62. 3v is, by accounts, incredibly tough at that RC hardness. The way I personally see knife steels, if you're thinking about dropping RC of a given tool steel below 60-61 because of impact toughness concerns, choose a different steel to begin with. S7 for example, but to re-iterate....3v pretty dad gum tough at 61-62. For smaller blades like hunting size that are in 3v, even harder...63HRC+.
 
Kentucky said:
First off that's some nice clean grinds ont hose big blades..Id go around 60rc(but now lower)..Ive beat knives to death at 61-62rc in 3v and was amazed at how tuff they are..just my opinion.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking! Nice work!
 
Thanks you guys! the knives are ground by my knifemaker friend :D

I think I'll go with 60-61 HRC with low tempering protocol with all the blades.
 
It's my belief that machetes should be soft enough to be filed. However that seems a waste of good 3V, so 60 seems like a good place start.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top