I have a how to question for anyone that might be trying the new cru forge v steel that was written about in the December 2009 Blade Magazine. I purchased some of this steel and have been trying to make some blades from it. My problem seems to lie in the hardening process. I first followed the spec sheet on the steel and pre heated to 1225 degrees and equalized the steel for ten minutes, then raised the temp to 1525 degrees for 10 minutes and edge quenched the knives in 100 degree oil. Doing the file test left me unsure if the steel was hard as a triangular file would grab just slightly. It didn't have the same hardness feel that 5160 would have after hardening and yet upon trying to drill some holes in the tang ( ya I should have done that before hardening ) the drill bit would not penetrate the rear center of the full tang. Is this the way a powdered steel acts compared to a steel like 516o? I would appreciate any help. I have even raised the temp to 1550 and quenched the steel and the edge of the blade doesn't seem any harder that the previous method. I have double tempered at 400 degrees with one blade and tested the edge and the knife seemed to cut very well. Want to get the best blade possible here with this steel. I think it will be good stuff if I can figure it out!
Anyone can e mail me their suggestions.
Anyone can e mail me their suggestions.
