Cryogenics

[SirIsaacNewton]

What are your thoughts on Cryogenics Dan? I was thinking about using a local guy and I have heard good things?

 

[Daniel Koster]

I don't know about that particular company - but I do have my air-hardened steels cryogenically treated. It does work and has been tested and proven many times over. It is not a necessary treatment....just like having a Porsche is not necessary...but well worth it (compared to a VW Bug!)

How's that for a bad analogy?



Dan

 

[RandomAyes]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Daniel Koster]

I think it's "for best results"...

But it's my understanding that cryo can be done at ant time and still give positive results.

 

[superfluities]

I hate speaking out of turn - I'm just an ordinary knut, not a hammerbangin bulletsweating sparkshootin knucklesanding dustwheezin gluecursing bladesmith. Still, cryo is an interesting topic.

Okay... it was my understanding that subzero treatment is done in order to force that last little bit of stubborn austenite to transform into martensite in a controlled way as opposed to letting it transform on its own, over time, which tends to cause brittleness.

It was also my understanding that, in order to be effective, a cryo treatment is really supposed to be done soon after quench, no more than a couple of hours.

If an aftermarket cryo company treats a knife sent in by the owner long, looong after that knife was quenched, wouldn't it defeat the real purpose of a subzero process? I.E. wouldn't it be far less effective?

I believe Walt Disney subscribed to this theory...lol