Heat Treat Issues

A

Alex Baliles

Joined
Jan 1, 2026
Messages
32
Im really baffled as to whats going on.
To preface, im using 1084 and 80crv2 coupons from reputable sources, fresh Mr. Volcano 50 quench oil. Stock removal.
I added a second, independent thermocouple to verify temps in the kiln.
Using a verified hardness tester and testing known steel in between.
Oil is preheated to 100. And agitate up and down during quench. Im using 4 gallons of oil.
I tried coupons at different temps and remove the scale and test after quench.

These are only some of my hardnesses.

1084 at 10 min soak. A bit over 1/8.
1450- 40.5hrc
1475- 38 hrc
1500- 44 hrc

80CRV2 3/16 12 min.
1475- 48hrc.

Im baffled unless this oil isnt what it claims to be. Im not sure.

Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.
 
Alex Baliles said:
Im really baffled as to whats going on.
To preface, im using 1084 and 80crv2 coupons from reputable sources, fresh Mr. Volcano 50 quench oil. Stock removal.
I added a second, independent thermocouple to verify temps in the kiln.
Using a verified hardness tester and testing known steel in between.
Oil is preheated to 100. And agitate up and down during quench. Im using 4 gallons of oil.
I tried coupons at different temps and remove the scale and test after quench.

These are only some of my hardnesses.

1084 at 10 min soak. A bit over 1/8.
1450- 40.5hrc
1475- 38 hrc
1500- 44 hrc

80CRV2 3/16 12 min.
1475- 48hrc.

Im baffled unless this oil isnt what it claims to be. Im not sure.

Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Btw this is only one round. I tried this a second round with fresh coupons and almost the same thing.
 
As a first step, try going a little deeper than just scale removal and retest.
If you Mr Volcano 50 is repackaged Parks, there is no need to preheat the quenchant...room temp should be fine.
 
Sometimes the decarb is deeper than you expect. I recently made some 1078 spike knives from Atlas Knife and Tool. I thought the heat treat was a bust because they tested around 40hrc. I started filing the edge down and after the first couple of passes the file started skating. Try digging in a bit with a file maybe?
 
polish avenger said:
As a first step, try going a little deeper than just scale removal and retest.
If you Mr Volcano 50 is repackaged Parks, there is no need to preheat the quenchant...room temp should be fine.
Click to expand...
I just tried taking a bunch off either side and 80crv2 tested at 61. The 1084 still tested at 45. It seems post wuench even the 80crv2 should be much harder than that.
 
If you test a known piece of steel and the tester reads the same as the known hardness, then the issue is in the testing method or the preparation.
As your 80CrV showed, you most likely haven't sanded all the decarb off the simpler steel.

1) Remove all decarb. It may take a good bit of sanding. Just making it shiny is not enough. If in doubt, dip in FC. It will turn black if it is the hardened steel. Decarb will be grayish.
2) Make sure you are testing on a surface that is Smooth, Flat, and Parallel on both sides. If it isn't smooth, flat, and parallel, the test will read off.
3) The finish should be 400 grit.
4) Parks 50 should be used at room temp. 60-80° is a good range. I use it as cold as 50° and up to 90° with good results.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
2) Make sure you are testing on a surface that is Smooth, Flat, and Parallel on both sides. If it isn't smooth, flat, and parallel, the test will read off.
Click to expand...
aside from what everyone else said about grinding deeper through the decarb layer this is kinda overlooked. Ideally you’d want/need an SGA or surface grinder for repeatable accurate results
 
Alex Baliles said:
I just tried taking a bunch off either side and 80crv2 tested at 61. The 1084 still tested at 45. It seems post wuench even the 80crv2 should be much harder than that.
Click to expand...
80crv2 is one of the materials that’s fairly sensitive to starting microstructure affecting the ht response.

https://imgur.com/a/MnF4r45

depending on where you got it from it’ll throw the ht temps off unless you do one of the various anneal cycles to setup the microstructure for a certain ht response. NJSB typically carries mostly buderus stuff
 
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