foil

butcher_block

butcher_block

Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
6,212
are there different brands of heat treating foil, stainless that is. i need pointed to the right stuff to get. my kiln will be here soon, thanks
 
There's a low temp (below 2000°) and a high temp (2000° to 2400°). The price is almost doubled between the two. I've bought it for years from Enco or MSC. Comes in the same boxes but sometimes there is a sale on. If you don't need the high temp stuff (all I use it for is S90V), stick with the low temp.
Normally you get it in 24" wide rolls. The last I bought was in 12" rolls and is alot handier to me.
Make sure they send a "roller" that you use on flattening the folded seams.
 
i have 440c so thats ok right now but just how close will i be cutting it on cpm s30v or ats 34 i dont think i ll be taking it past 1950f.
 
The latest Enco Flyer/Catalog shows two types of stainless steel tool wraps. A "Type 321-High Titanium" for temperatures up to 1800* and a "Type 309-High Temperature" for temps up to 2200*. The high temperature wrap costs more than twice as much.

Having just gotten my heat treat oven I too need to order some but will the lower cost wrap stand up to a 150* over temp?

I find it interesting that Enco touts the fact that it is made in the USA and gives termperature ranges for use of two different types whereas another supplier (KBC - USA made also) gives the brand name as well as the alloy composition, no temperature range and the price is halfway between the two Enco offerings.

No wonder I'm confused.

Allen
 
Allen,
I can understand your confusion. I would think that the temp difference is just a safety factor. I've used the low temp foil at temps above 2000 degrees but I worried about it during the process.

This site explains it differently. http://www.keithcompany.com/Foil-300.asp

And from the Crucible site.
http://www.crucibleservice.com/eselector/prodbyapp/special/stainlsfoil.html

I know of one maker that was having a problem with burning up the foil. He finally figured out his oven was running almost 200 degrees on the high side.
 
those links help nicely thanks much i will hope the low temp holds i dont see myself going over 2000
if the foil would burn off how bad should i expect scale
im thinking i should grind anything that might be close to max temp thicker
for the just in case factor
 
B. B.

The fold doesn't burn off, in burns on to the blade steel. Then your life will be a grind. My vote is for the higher temp. foil. Make the foil bags a little larger than your knife and you can use them over a few times if you cut the top of the bag off at the top fold. There is value in the higher temp. foil.

Jeff
 
Jeff,

That's an excellent suggestion and I will try that.

Has anyone tried using an inert gas purge of the bag before sealing the last fold? If so, any success, techniques or suggestions?

Allen
 
When I seal up the foil, I put a small piece of wood in with the blade to burn up the oxygen. On 440c after heat treating the only thing I notice on the blade is some small pin holes that I guess is "de-carbonizing" of the stainless. But they grind away real easy.
 
Inert gas, like argon needs to fill the heat treating chamber, and continue to purge the chamber until the heat treating is complete. H/T foil is not used when argon is utilized. Keeping the inert gas in the H/T bag would be difficult if not impossible. But I won't say it can't be done.
There are saftey issues with using inert gases. Well ventilated work space is a must.
 
I use a cigarette butt in the package. When I quit smoking, don't know what I'll do :)

My experience with purging the oven with argon is that when you open that door to pull the knives out, lots of oxygen hits them.

Start thinking about quench plates. If you go to the CPM steels, you'll need em.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top