Decarb

Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
2
Hello. I'm looking for info about decarb. I used 80crv2 1525 quench in AAA. Temper at 375. I use atp anti scale and it's gray when I take it out of the quench. The atp flakes off in the quench. I sand it to 220 before I temper so I can see it turn straw color in my oven.
I then hand sand from 120 down to 600grit. Nice and shiney. Then I Soak it in vinegar to get a patina and it turns nice and grey but has some darker black areas.
Are those dark areas decarb and do I need to re hand sand?
I can't seem to figure out how to send a pic
Thanks
Greg
 
Welcome back, riokid87.

Regardless of what anti-scale or coating you use there will be some decarb. Forcing can create quite a thick layer of decarb. You didn't say if you used a HT oven or not, but a forge HT will make much more decarb than most folks realize. After HT, EVERY knife needs to be ground or sanded to clean metal unless you have factory level equipment. The "shiny metal" was mostly shiny decarb.
As said, decarb etches grey and carbon steel etches blacker.
 
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