M 2

[dixieforge2]

Found some M 2 for sale for a decent price. How is it to forge with and heat treat?

 

[J.S. Carter]

dont bother forging it unless your a glutton for punishment... it doesnt move easy under a hand swung hammer, and it only has a 300º F forging window (2050º - 1700º F)

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

And the heat treat of M2 is not trivial. Very high temps, precise time and temperature control, recommended molten salt quench etc. Exactly the wrong steel for forging. I'd recommend you find some 1084 in the for sale section here, it isn't pricey and it will work well.

 

[Keith_H]

It should be fine if you can machine it to shape and then heat treat accordingly, but it is complex steel, as the others said.

 

[dixieforge2]

Thanks guys, probably not worth the trouble.