Does W-2 air harden?

Tom Lewis

Tom Lewis

Joined
Feb 24, 2000
Messages
1,952
I was getting some W-2 steel ready to harden. I heated it up to 1600 degrees for 15 minutes, took out and let cool for ten minutes, then heated to 1450 for ten minutes, took out and let cool for ten minutes, then put in 1425 for ten minutes and took out and let cool, before I put clay on it for the final heat and quench. Before I applied the clay, I decided to check it with a file and it was glass hard. The file just skated across the blade.
Anyone else have this experience?
 
It didn't harden in the sense that you get martensite, but you did confirm that fine pearlite, which you did make, will skate a file.
 
Just to clarify, "harden" can be a relative term. If you start with fully annealed steel then heating and air cooling to form fine pearlite is a strengthening/hardening process. W2 is known for requiring a fast quench, so it's doubtful you got any significant martensite formation. Fine pearlite is a wonderful structure to have in preparation for final hardening, just not for machining, cutting, or drilling.
 
Do you have a way to test hardness with a Rockwell tester? I'd guess mid 30's to low 40's HRc, yet, evidently it will skate a file like mid 60s.
 
I do have a hardness tester, but didn''t think to use it. The blades have all been quenched and tempered, so it is now too late to test them.
Thanks again for your help.
 
Crud. Well, I don't guess it's reasonable for you to wait around just to satisfy my curiosity. Pics?
 
I'm not sure pictures would help. I have ground the blades and am ready for the 220 grit belt. I doubt there would be anything to see. I can post pictures after I etch for the hamon. Thanks again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top