Hardening depth on 1095 ?

[mitch8]

I'm reading a book on heat treating and it says that the hardening depth on 1095 is only 0.04-0.08 inches deep. Does this mean that all the good steel on a 1095 blade is sharpened away in the first few years?

Mitch

 

[aarongb]

I've always wondered the same thing when I see "shallow hardening" about any steel.

 

[Frank Niro]

When properly hardened, it will be bcompletely through the steel. Frank

 

[stevomiller]

Although 1095 is shallow hardening, think about the cross section dimensions in a typical blade. Even if the spine is 3/16" (.188") if you use the right quenchant you will achieve that .080" hardening depth from all directions. So, in this case even the thick spine is through hardened. Now think of how thin the cross section is behind the edge, and for what distance. Not a problem

 

[mete]

1095 has been around for a very long time .Afew years ago there was a thread on another forum with a member of the Wilkinson family .In WWII they used 1095 extensively and quenched itin whale oil !! Properly hT'd it makes a great blade.

 

[mitch8]

Yeah Steve has a good point, geometry is a good thing to consider and I started thinking about that right after I posted this.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Shallow is a relative word. In a 6" block of steel .08-.10" truly is shallow. In a .160" thick blade, the same amount of shallow is all the way through.

 

[me2]

What book are you reading?