Flatground

medtech

medtech

Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
100
I bought a piece of 01 from Flatfround on Monday and had it by Wednesday. The only problem was that they sent me A2. I called and sent it pack on there account and the manager sated he would send another piece out. On thursday MR.UPS showed up with my steel. Once again it was A2. I called the manager on Friday and told him again this was A2. He put me on hold to check his stock. Apperently the A2 was in the wrong bin:mad: So hopefully come Monday I'll have my 01. Does any one use A2?
 
I have used A2 a couple times. Great steel, fairly easy to work with compaired to some other steels. The only hard part is the heat treat.
 
You got the better of the deal. I ordered a bunch of O1 last week. Mine was O1. No A2 in my package.
 
A2 is an air hardening steel. For optimal results you will need an electric furnace with digital controls, high temperature foil to prevent decarburization and a way to quickly cool the steel in air. Quench plates work great. A2 requires high temperatures and controlled soak times. FWIW - A2 is very tough and an excellent knife steel. Chris Reeve one-piece knives are made from A2.
 
I ordered a batch of O-1 last fall and they included a chunk of 5/32 x 1 1/2 A-2 in the lot---Kept it and am going to try once I get my new KimmyG painted and re-assembled. A lot of of good makers use A-2--little tougher and little better edge retention than O-1 Tom Hollowell (aka Cooter DeGraw)
 
A2 is higher priced and will outperform O1, given the proper heat treat. Consider the free upgrade a gift. Knowing FG.com, they will probably send the O1 for free.
 
medtech said:
How would you heat treat A2? I've only bee using 01.
Steve
Click to expand...

I harden A2 at 1870°F with a 30 minute soak. Then temper at 450°F for at least 2hrs twice.

If you want to Cryo do it before tempering as soon as the steel cools to room temperature. I have quit doing Cryo treatments on tool steels after reading this paper: http://www.airproducts.com/NR/rdonl...019GLB.pdf#search="cryogenic quenching steel"

I plate quench in the foil at this point. Air quench works but often you get some oxidation during cooling
 
i orderd from flat ground, the one thing i didnt like with them is that you give them a date you want it by and then they just randomly send it.. i had good luck with the one pice ove ordered from them. im going to order some d2 and more o1 soon.

it seems like an understandable reason at least, good to hear they were able/willing to help you

-matt
 
Well I think I might profile a couple out and see if I can get some one to heat treat for me. Thanks for all the info.
Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top