Cryovac, 1084

I'll do my best to explain without the jargon, since it was very confusing when I asked the same question two years ago.

it doesn't need a cryo, you just need to get the steel in the right condition before heat treat, then heating temperature needs to be ramped up slowly and heated evenly at the proper temp and time. Then it needs the proper quenching speed.
If you need a cryo for 1084 then steps I mentioned above are being done improperly because the steel should fully harden when cooled rapidly to well above room temperature.

The cryo is only used for more alloyed steels that don't fully harden until well below freezing temp.
 
Understand. I'm glad to know this. I hardened a batch of it today . No way to cryovac. And glad to know I won't receive any benefit from sending it away for cryo. I googled all over for this answer before posting. Couldn't find an answer. THANK YOU.
 
yes, thats the advantage of carbon steel at the .80 carbon range. Its much better to heat treat at home with good results, I wouldn't send stuff out unless I bought more alloyed steel.

Show us those knives when they are done :D
 
Or unless you have 20 knives to HT...
Lol.

What was your HT process?
Walk us through your steps.

But I agree, post up some pics. Even works in progress, maybe we can try to prevent an issue you missed, if we see it first, it is possible.
Much harder to do so if we can't see it.
 
Cryogenic treatment must be part of the HT not an after thought !! The cryo is done at liquid nitrogen temperature [ - 300 F ] and is a slow diffusion type reaction as opposed to a fast martensite reaction . Complex high tech steels so called 'powder steels' benefit and are used to get the maximum properties . If a maker skips this step for those steel types then he doesn't understand the process.
 
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