Idle forge soak

[Deweyknives]

I hope this does'nt get too complicated but I have a question on a "while forging" soak. I'm forging mostly 3/4" 5160 round bar. After I flatten it out and form a rough shape, I often let it soak for about 5 min. in an idle forge [1000-1100 degrees]. I was always thinking this would relax some af the stress from so much movement. Is this doing any good or am I just wasting fuel,forging time and burning carbon? At what temp do you start to lose carbon? Thanks for any input!

 

[Raymond Richard]

If it was a roast letting it cook longer would be fine. There's nothing gained by soaking it durring the forging process unless you arm is sore.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

IIRC carbon vaporizes into carbon dioxide (assuming there is enough oxygen present) at about 1250F.There is not any reason to soak during forging as that every heat undoes the stress of the last. After forging, annealing, and spheroidizing all have their place.After grinding, normalizing (stress relieving) and thermal cycling are the procedures to do prior to HT.
Stacy

 

[Deweyknives]

O.K., does'nt help but won't hurt either as long as I'm below decarb temp. Usualy need a break about then anyhow. I always do several nornalizing sessions after forging and after grinding, so I should be set!! Thanks.