Help with a couple HT recipes- AEB-L and 3v

[JG Custom Metal Works]

So, the heat treatments are done and all hardness levels were right on point. Thanks a bunch for the info guys.

The only problem I have now is my AEB-L knives have slight bends in them. I’m starting to hate working with AEB-L. Any ideas on straightening them? I’m attempting to straighten them by clamping them in between two pieces of angle iron, but it didn’t work. The only other thing I can think of is running it through it’s last tempering cycle with shims pushing it the opposite way of the bend. Two of the knives are small/thin(.070”) kitchen knives and can be bent by hand. So I’m thinking I should be able to handle that by that method. The other knife is a large/thick(.200”) blade and can’t be bent by hand. I’m hesitant to put it in the vise and start bending it after heat treating, but it has been tempered.

Is there anyway to normalize AEB-L or thermal cycle it so that it removes all the stresses that cause the warping/bending?

I’m going to try the shim method with the larger knife. Since it’s already been hardened, cryo’d, and tempered am I just pissing in the wind trying to straighten it?

What do you guys think?

 

[JTknives]

You will be shocked how much counter bend AEBL will have to get to straighten. I use Allen wrenches becaus it allows me to go up to 1/2” easily. It will take a handful of tempers and each time you will have to bump up the counter bend. You will get to a point where it will straighten or snap. I like AEBL as an alloy but hate the bowing. Best bet is to straighten it right after it comes out of the plates. If you wait till after cryo and temper your just about stuck with the bow. I do t get it bevaus other steels that are much harder to deal with like D2 come out of the plates stright as an arrow.

 

[Robert Erickson]

Credit to @Matthew Gregory for this tempering jig idea. This is my first version. I now have one that is 2.5" X 2.5" X 18" with multiple tapped holes for screws to make for a more adjustable jig.
Untitled by Robert Erickson, on Flickr

 

[MotorCityMike]

Throwing a post in here for future reference

 

[rodriguez7]

I spoke with ol Nate himself and I’m gonna try out the 3v single heat heat treat tonight. What do you guys think then, 30min soak at 1950f?

That’s what I’ve been doing!

 

[Ken H>]

Is there anyway to normalize AEB-L or thermal cycle it so that it removes all the stresses that cause the warping/bending?

Devin says you can re-HT AEB-L by the following:
To anneal AEB-L wrap blades in foil, soak at 1350⁰F for 12 hours – does not require slow cooling. This is a very good condition to re-harden from. This is a simple sub-critical anneal to allow straightening before re-heat treating in cases of warpage. Once the sub-critical anneal is complete, ramp oven to 1725F, then place blade in oven for 20 minute soak. Remove blade, clamp between Quench plates. After removing from quench plates ramp oven to 1975F for final HT.

 

[Destructabot]

So, the heat treatments are done and all hardness levels were right on point. Thanks a bunch for the info guys.

The only problem I have now is my AEB-L knives have slight bends in them. I’m starting to hate working with AEB-L. Any ideas on straightening them?

While it doesn't address the issue of straightening blades already quenched, I've had very good luck maintaining straight AEB-L blades by keeping them clamped between plates while finishing the quench in DI slurry. For reference, these are thinner stock blades heat treated with Devin Thomas' home shop recipe linked to earlier in the thread. Best of luck getting the bend out of those!