Is 1095 tricky to heat treat?

[Sprayman]

Greetings:

I'm getting ready to make some kitchen knives out of 1095. I think I've read that it's trickier to treat than 1084. Is this true? If so, can you recommend any tricks? I will do most of my grinding post-heat treat, as suggested in another thread. I plan to quench the blades in oil.

Thanks

 

[samuraistuart]

1095 just requires a tight temp window, and a soak at that temp, so it's best heat treat is done in a kiln. Whereas 1084 has a larger temp window and needs no real soak for a good heat treat.

 

[SBuzek]

1095 just requires a tight temp window, and a soak at that temp, so it's best heat treat is done in a kiln. Whereas 1084 has a larger temp window and needs no real soak for a good heat treat.

And you need a really fast oil,parks 50 or in a pinch a couple of gallons of canola heated to 120-125F.

 

[samuraistuart]

And you need a really fast oil,parks 50 or in a pinch a couple of gallons of canola heated to 120-125F.

Ah, yes....VERY important factor! 1084 will harden to it's max in canola, it's Mn count is pretty high to allow a better hardenability, whereas canola will only fully harden thin 1095 cross sections. To get what 1095 offers at the table, a very fast quench oil or water/brine solution is needed in addition to the tight HT parameters.