heat treatment question

[sunny_2_75]

Hello, I'm in the process of getting the necessities to start forging knives. I have read and studied for two years now. In the process I have read about both methods stock removal and forging. I dont understand the huge difference in heat treatment methods. For the forger on a simple carbon steel you heat to critical temp(non magnetic) hold for a bit and then quench. The stock removal involves a soak time at critical temp.The forger is not soaking at temp for that long. why is that....is the fact that the forger is constantly bringing his knife in and out temp during the shaping process doing the same thing as a longer soak?

 

[12345678910]

I think you are mixing up 2 very basic differences.

Stock removal and forging are not 2 different types of heat treating.

Stock removal and forging are 2 different methods of shaping the blade.


Both must still heat treat to achieve the required hardness after shaping is done.


The difference in soak times can be attributed to the use of high alloy,or stainless steels needing longer time at temperature for proper heat treat.

 

[JasonSCarter]

Hello, I'm in the process of getting the necessities to start forging knives. I have read and studied for two years now. In the process I have read about both methods stock removal and forging. I dont understand the huge difference in heat treatment methods. For the forger on a simple carbon steel you heat to critical temp(non magnetic) hold for a bit and then quench. The stock removal involves a soak time at critical temp.The forger is not soaking at temp for that long. why is that....is the fact that the forger is constantly bringing his knife in and out temp during the shaping process doing the same thing as a longer soak?

I think you may have misunderstood. Most professional blade forging folks USE a proper heat treat kiln, to be able to do the proper soak times and temperatures, to extract the very last bit of performance possible for that steel. As far as others (myself included) not using one, I do make sure I use steels whose soak times are minimal at best. 10xx/W1-2 soaking for 5 minutes is un nerving to say the least, trying to keep the heat even in my coal forge. :thumbup:

Jason

 

[me2]

The main difference in heat treating is that stock removal makers typically use more complicated steels than forgers. The CPM alloys, stainless alloys, and many tool steels just don't move as much under a hand hammer. They often require more complicated heat treatments, soak times, and other things the simple steels don't need. Also, there are forgers that forge to shape, then do their heat treating using ovens, controlled temperatures, soak times, etc. Also, non-magnetic and critical temperature are not the same thing.