D2 for a camp/chopper

[olymon]

Time to get high tech and do some explosive welding.

 

[kuraki]

My first thought was somthing like D2 but it's 900° temper is a little lacking. I have not looked at Z-wear but I will. I had thought that CPM-3v would be just about perfect with its 1900° quench and 900-1000° temper. The 1900° quench would set the 17-4 in condition A and harden the 3v. Then the 900° temper would precipitate the 17-4 to around 45-50rc and temper the 3V. I had started down this road once already but quickly relized I needed to start with much thinner 3V and not the big block I have on hand. I'm sure there are quite a few other aloys out there that share the 1900° & 900° treatment. Best bet would be start thin and tig weld the edges and just do a forge weld and not try and draw it out much. If it happened to work you would have a steel that was just about impossible to destroy.

Cru-wear looks to be very simaler in alloy as z-wear with a dash of manganese and silicon. It is probably as perfect of a match as any. Thy list optum hardness with a 1850-1950° quench and a 950° temper which gives around 62-63RC.

Also think about parkerizing or etching. I assume 3V etches a gray color. I've had no success trying to parkerize it. I haven't etched it but ZW is 7.5% Cr too and etches to a dark gray. 4V or M4 are in similar temperature ranges, 4V being closer, with less chromium and might give better contrast.

 

[chumaman]

Chumaman, FFG (does this mean full flat grind) on that blade? Nice looking blade/handle. How thin did you take it. Nice to know it's been done. For his project, I think a new piece of 5160 might be good for him. McMaster had some good prices on bar stock.

yes FFG....Bohler K110 ... Last one - a little lighter and acid etched