Laminated steel cladding

[HSC ///]

It’s a bit difficult here in France to get mild steel. I don’t know why.
A local seller gave me some S275JR to try it out. Equivalent would be A529. Carbon .21% and Mn 1.5%

D DevinT Any reason why this would not be a suitable cladding to use?

I’ve been using the Suminagashi from dictum which works great but it’s costly

Here’s my first try with it

 

[DevinT]

It should be fine. I’d be curious to see how hard the cladding is after heat treating. If you can get to around 35 hrc that would be good.

For less chance of things splitting, properly normalize and anneal. Austenitize from the middle of the temperature range and temper soon after the quench.

I usually cold forge the tip and the heel a tiny bit before heat treating.

Hoss

 

[Ken H>]

Hoss, what's the purpose of cold forging those two points before HT'ing - tip and heel?

 

[DevinT]

Hoss, what's the purpose of cold forging those two points before HT'ing - tip and heel?

Those two pointy areas are usually where the splitting starts, by stretching the cladding, it puts some tension on the cladding before the core has a chance to grow in hardening. The main problem is that the core grows when hardened and the cladding doesn’t, so it can tear itself apart.

Hoss

 

[Ken H>]

Hoss, things like your comment shows just how important your knowledge is to the rest of us. Thank you for sharing.

 

[fitzo]

Those two pointy areas are usually where the splitting starts, by stretching the cladding, it puts some tension on the cladding before the core has a chance to grow in hardening. The main problem is that the core grows when hardened and the cladding doesn’t, so it can tear itself apart.

Hoss

I'll never, ever be able to swing a hammer again in my life, but I am just tickled to learn that tidbit, sir! Thank you so much for sharing your hard-earned mastery of this stuff.