CruForge V normalizing temps

samuraistuart

samuraistuart

Joined
Dec 21, 2006
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3,158
I recently acquired a stick of CruForge V, and I have a couple of questions I'm hoping you can help me with. I'm stock removal only, so no forging is done. Steel comes annealed and is quite soft and machinable. There is information online (not a whole lot) about the heat treat for this particular steel, so I have an idea of what I'm going to do, but I need some advice on normalizing/grain refining. I suppose I should add that I am using a homemade forge, I'm not able to be exact, but I like to think I can get close.

Carbon - 1.05% Chromium - .50% Vanadium - .75% Manganese - .75%

How high of a temperature should that first normalizing step be, and for how long? I was thinking that 1550 would be sufficient, with a hold of about 5-10 minutes. However, after a brief exchange with a fellow knifemaker, he suggested to treat it like you would Adlo's super spherodized 52100 (requiring an initial heat of 1650F for 5-10 minutes, up to 30minutes?)

After normalizing is done, and I'm about to austenitize at 1500, should I hold it at 1500 for 10 minutes as well, or can I quench once it's up to temp?

Thank you so much.

Stuart Davenport
 
I think your proposed outline is sufficient.
If you are using a forge and do not have precise control, I would not suggest hold times of any long extent.
A couple short cycles at the higher range is better than a long hold at a temp you can't control.
Then another one not as hot.
Then another one not as hot as that, yet still ABOVE non-mag. (1414).

If that makes sense.
The vanadium in CruV is your friend.
 
Makes perfect sense, Karl. Thanks so much. My holds at temp are rarely more than 5 minutes because, you said it, it's harder to do with a forge. Actually, my third heat (I thought) would be in the 1350 range. Is it recommended to not go below 1414 for that last normalizing run? I was thinking 1550, 1450, 1350. mas o menos. I AM buying a pyro/thermocouple soon.
 
Whoa......I must have done something right. Heat treated this thing.......and it is a bugger bear to hand sand. My goodness.......I'm going to be sanding for quite some time. It laughed at my file after quenching. I tempered twice for two hours at 400, and the now the file just BARELY will scratch it. Should be around 62, I'm guessing. Maybe higher? I think I've got it! Now, if I just had the proper kiln!!!!!
 
Hand sanding CruV will test your convictions.
I find CruV a perfect candidate for a machine finish! ;)

And I think you'll find Cruv very un-demanding when it comes to heat treating.
Get it hot - quench it - temper it. Don't over-think it.
 
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