Heat Treating Data Book

[AVigil]

For new people and those who might not of known, you can get a Free Copy of "Heat Treating Data Book" from SecoWarwick. It is available for a free down load or you can get a paper back version for a few bucks.

http://www.secowarwick.com/htdb/htdb.htm

 

[Brian Avila]

Thank you sir!!!!

 

[AVigil]

Glad somebody like it

There is a lot of information in there and reference. One tidbit of information was very useful concerning heat treatment. Many rely solely on their pyrometers and controls of their heat treatment, but the book says the best method is to watch the color of the metal during heat treatment, not through a peep hole but actually open the door and look at it. When it comes to the right color then look at the pyrometer and use both to monitor for best results.

So I wonder how many people just go by what the temperature says, open up their stainless steel pouch and go right to quench? Keeping an eye on color and temp is recommended can make a difference.

 

[tom1417]

Much appreciated good stuff here

 

[Salem Straub]

You kind of have to take your instruments for granted with air hardening steels(i.e., steels that you would wrap with foil to heat.) I believe it would be nearly impossible to judge hardening temps for that group of alloys by eye. That, and it would fry your eyeballs out of your head watching it soak for long at 2100 deg. plus.

With carbon steels, it can help to watch for decalescence to determine when you've reaching austenitizing temp.

Staring at hot steel for very long can be very bad for your eyes over time. It gives off a damaging spectrum of radiation. So, you may want to get some didymium glasses. But then, your heat colors will look different.

Also, most steel that gets wrapped in a stainless pouch stays in it through the plate quench.

I got that little book a few years back, it has some useful info but not very much for tempering temps/rc for AISI high carbon steels as I recall. Had to look elsewhere when I started working with 52100.