L6 heat treat

[SDS]

Can anyone share their heat treat formula's for L6?

I have heat treated smaller blades with good results but I just finished up a 3/16" thick X 8" (approx. length including full tang). I took the blade to 1475 degrees and soaked for 10 minutes. I quenched in transmission fluid. I cleaned off the blade and tempered at 400 degrees twice for one hour each.

I don't have a way to test the RC hardness but when I run a file over the edge (triangle shaped file, using the corner to bite the blade) it bites in rather than skating over the steel. When I heat treat D2, 440C, ATS34/154CM the file skates accross the steel.

Help??

SDS

 

[Phillip Patton]

1475 is a bit low for L6. I'd go 1500 or 1515 for starters.
Oh, wait. Is this the "L6" from Admiral? If so, you're probably tempering too high.
Something else to consider is decarb. Did you do the file test before or after regrinding?

Can anyone share their heat treat formula's for L6?

I have heat treated smaller blades with good results but I just finished up a 3/16" thick X 8" (approx. length including full tang). I took the blade to 1475 degrees and soaked for 10 minutes. I quenched in transmission fluid. I cleaned off the blade and tempered at 400 degrees twice for one hour each.

I don't have a way to test the RC hardness but when I run a file over the edge (triangle shaped file, using the corner to bite the blade) it bites in rather than skating over the steel. When I heat treat D2, 440C, ATS34/154CM the file skates accross the steel.

Help??

SDS

 

[SDS]

The L6 is not from Admiral. I did the file test before regrinding. Should I regrind then test again??

At this point if it is too soft can I anneal and re heat treat it without problems?

Thanks,
SDS