First time sending steel for heat treatment. Help with details please.

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skillgannon

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Apr 27, 2009
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I am going to be sending out my first batch of knives for heat treament. I am planning to use Peters. I am sending .70 and .110 AEB-L that will be kitchen knives and maybe some small hunters and utility type blades. I will also be sending a couple of blades in .140 CPM M-4 that will be a couple 4"ish hunters and a chef knife. Also a chopper and a hunter in 3/16" A2.



My questions are how thin can I leave the edges? I have heard that AEB-L has real problems with warping. Both pieces arrived warped. I am a little worried about finishing that M4.

Also what sort of hardness should I ask for? I am wanting to push the M4 especially. I love my Gail Bradley that is around .010 behind the edge. I will probably go thinner and the knives will be dedicated cutters. Zero plans of batoning it through a airplane to find my char cloth. :p. The AEB-L knives will be slicers also but many will be gifts to people who might toss them I'm the dishwasher or cut on plates or countertops. That said I will save a couple for myself and would like to have max hardness. The A2 knives will be hard use.

I was hoping to get the 20 blade discount at Peters. What is the usual turnaround time? I am hoping to use one of the blades for the KITH.
 
I have sent blades to Peters' in AEBL, 20CV, 90V S110V and other steels ground as thin as .020 at the edge with no warping. Brad is a master.

Actually getting ready to send an order in myself in AEBL and S110V. I usually take the higher carbide steels to final dimension and finish before sending it in, all it requires is some finish sanding.
 
If you call Peter’s heat treat and speak to Brad he will answer your questions and more! They’re great folks.
 
IIRC, Brad told me that the problem with leaving some steels thinner than .015 is not overall warping, but having the edge do the "potato chip" thing.
 
I've had Peters do my ht for some time. I usually send in large groups 60 or so blades on average but have sent over 100 a couple of times. On your AEB-L kitchen knives I would save all your bevel grinding till after ht. works easier and better for me. I have those done at 62rc and regular knives from that steel the same. I do run my leather working knives from AEB-L at 63rc. I also occasionally use A2 for hunters, skinners and camp knives. They also are done at 62rc.

I grind to about 90% finished and send em off. Every single blade I have ever sent has come back perfectly straight. Turnaround time varies but three weeks is about average. Got 60 odd out there awaiting me in the shop for their post ht grinding today.
 
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