Honey I shrunk the blades !

[lizrules]

I think anyway. Guy's I heat treated two folder blades last night and both the pivot holes closed up. Thought it was just decarb went to run the reamer through it and, Nope ain't gonna happen. Did these blades get too hot? I didn't change my process and have never had this happen before. Steel is ats-34 heated to 1900 deg. hold 10 min. plate quench to room temp. in the oven 400 deg. 2 hrs. This has worked well for me untill now. Any idea's input greatly appreciated. Also best way to resize holes, suggestions. Thanks a bunch, Chandler

 

[Rusty McDonald]

Just run a bit through it to clean it out then ream it.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You will need to ream and polish out precision holes most always after HT. The holes are often slightly smaller after the steel converts to Martensite, which has a larger structure than pearlite.
Stacy

 

[Fellhoelter]

IMHO pivot holes should be lapped anyhow.
Buy a barrel lap and compound from McMaster-Carr or someone, and lap it.

Or use a carbide reamer.

 

[lizrules]

Thanks guy's, Got a barrel lap and diamond paste in route. Chandler