Exposing an edge to over 300 degrees F

[bpeezer]

Will exposure to a temperature of ~300F for ten seconds damage the temper of a blade? Looking specifically for evidence/scientific sources. I searched the site, but everything I found seems to be conjecture. Not sure if this is the right area, but I wasn't exactly sure where to put it.

 

[Student762]

why are you exposing a blade to 300 degrees farenheit? What steel is it? Are you trying to change the temper?

 

[bpeezer]

why are you exposing a blade to 300 degrees farenheit? What steel is it? Are you trying to change the temper?

I guess I should have given some context! The company I work for has machinery that uses large blades. We send the blades out to get sharpened, and after sharpening they are dipped in a wax for rust prevention. I went out to our sharpener to observe their process, and found that the wax was at 307 degrees F. The alloy is not listed on the blades, but I believe they are M2 HSS.

 

[davek14]

I am no expert but I believe High Speed Steel is made to withstand high temperatures to an extent.


Just a sec.....

Wiki

High-speed steel (HSS or HS) is a subset of tool steels, commonly used in tool bits and cutting tools.

It is often used in power-saw blades and drill bits. It is superior to the older high-carbon steel tools used extensively through the 1940s in that it can withstand higher temperatures without losing its temper (hardness). This property allows HSS to cut faster than high carbon steel, hence the name high-speed steel. At room temperature, in their generally recommended heat treatment, HSS grades generally display high hardness (above HRC60) and abrasion resistance (generally linked to tungsten and vanadium content often used in HSS) compared with common carbon and tool steels


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_steel

Anyways, if you're anal like me you'll wonder if it will hurt it a *little*. I dunno. Wouldn't worry about it too much though.

 

[farid.]

HSS steels like M2, M4, M35, T-1, T15, REX-121 just to list a few do not lose their temper until they are well over 1000F, below this temperature it wouldn’t touch it’s matrix, even at over 1050F temper cycles most of them will end up around 64 - 71.5RC depending on the grade of HSS steel.
Hope this helps, Farid

 

[me2]

For the temper to be affected, the temperature needs to exceed the original tempering temperature or be there for a LONG time (days). Very few steels are tempered below 350 degrees, so the 300 of the wax bath won't cause any problems.