how to "soften" 01 and ATS 34

M

miden

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
835
Hi guys,
Anyone know if it is possible to do this on these steels?
Much appreciated.
Mike
 
Both can be annealed. O1 can be done with a small forge or an electric furnace by heating to non-magnetic and slow cooling in vermiculite or similar medium (lamellar anneal). ATS-34 is a high alloy steel and requires accurate temperature and time controls for any annealing, meaning a digitally controlled furnace. O1 can be brought to its softest state (spheroidized anneal) by using an electric furnace with accurate controls. Spheroidizing is a much lengthier process, but yields the best physical state for machining.
 
Whew, thanks Fox. I was kinda hoping for something less complicated 'cause I do not have this sort of equipment.
I do not need to anneal it completely, I just want to soften the spine a bit maybe to make the blade less prone to breakage and also, to soften a blade a bit behind the ricasso where it has been thinned in a hidden tang knife, also to reduce the chance of breakage. I have access to an oxyacetelyne torch. :D
Mike
 
It's easy with O1. Just heat the spine while the edge is submerged in water to keep it from getting too hot. I use a deep baking pan and a propane torch. Get the spine hot and let it cool by itself. If you don't put the edge in water it will heat up and soften which will reduce it's edge holding. If the knife has a handle on it, you can't do it without damaging the handle. Be careful with this or you will mess up your knife. You may want to ask around or look for some detailed tutorials.

As for ats34, I don't think it can be selectivly tempered. I may be wrong. I've never worked with this steel before.

I hope this helps.
 
To soften ATS-34 you'd have to heat it to at least 1200 F to get down to 45HRc and for 0-1 to get the same hardness you'd need 900F tempering temperature.With a steel like ATS-34 I don't think you'd really get any benefit.
 
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