HT W2 file with simpel tools?

[peppen108]

Im going to a night class in blacksmithing. The blacksmith asked me to bring scrap steel ( similar to 1070, 1084, 01, W2). I got a batch of old worn out files that i just found out where made out of W2 tool steel.

There will be a coal forge, water, oil, magnets.

How would you heat treat it?

 

[gredpe3]

The blacksmith there will help you.
Eddie

 

[elementfe]

There's great stuff at the top of the "Bladesmith Q and A" page- the stickies were written by some very fine bladesmiths.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...reads-All-The-Good-Info-You-Want-In-One-Place

 

[peppen108]

Truly extensive material in the links. W2 is not mentioned and I cant seem to find a god source on-line. My initial thought was to soak it at 1450F for three minutes and then quench it in oil heated to 70F.



I am a noob but it seems reasonable after reading this data:



http://www.metalravn...ls/OC100EX.html



http://www.cintool.c...ardening/W2.pdf

 

[samuraistuart]

If it really is W2, a 1450 or 1475 degree soak for AT LEAST 10 minutes will work perfect. Quench in oil (oil is safer than water, but water certainly can be used on W2) that has been warmed to 120 or so. You certainly can quench in room temp oil. Temper in oven at about 425 degrees for about a 60 rockwell. Perfect.

 

[peppen108]

Thanks! I have not found out at what temperature W2 looses its magnetism?

 

[elementfe]

http://www.cashenblades.com/steel/w2.html
There's a ton of other good info on Cashen's page, too.

 

[samuraistuart]

I believe the higher carbon steels lose their magnetism around 1414 F. This point varies just slightly between steels, but it is around 1414 F.