File guide question

I

Iwannashoot

Joined
Jan 26, 2012
Messages
91
I have searchd the form for information on how to make a file guide, and I have found alot of information in previous threads. But, I have one remaining question regarding the tempering.

I am using Aldo's 1084 and will heat treat in my two brick forge and quench in canola oil. My usual temper process is two hours in Momma's gas oven at 400F, quench in tap water and back in the oven for two more hours. This has proven in the past to yield a rockwell of C59 on blades that I've had tested.

I think that it would be better to have a file guide slightly harder when finished, and one of the previous threads recommended a tempering in the range of 300F to 350F.

Should I temper twice at this temperture range? Will the heat at this low a tempreature convert any of the remaining Austenite to Martensite in the first tempering cycle, or is the second heat cycle a waste of time?

Thanks for all the knowledge I gained from lurking around here.

Jeff
 
First - Two tempers are needed any time you temper knife type steel steel.

Second - 1084 is about at its best at Rc59-61. Tempering at 350 would be OK for thicker pieces.....twice. It should give you Rc 61-62 if you did everything right with the proper quenchant.

Which leads to Third - Water isn't the quenchant of choice for 1084. Fast oil will be far better. The myth that water gets it harder is misplaced. Martensite has the same hardness whatever the quenchant.....as long as it will cool the steel at a rate to miss the pearlite nose. Water will work, but the stress may crack the steel, or make micro-cracks that cause failure when torquing down the bolts.
 
For some reason the forum has been double posting lately.
 
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