Need help annealing O1...

A

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Jul 17, 2013
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This is probably done before, and I have searched a fair bit, and tried three times to anneal a slab of O1 steel.

I have a basic setup for a charcoal forge, all it is is an old barbecue with a shop vac through it for air. I can successfully get it non-magnetic, then leave it in the charcoal (with wood on top) to cool down. All of my attempts have resulted in it being (what appears to my noobie eyes) to be normalized, no softer than when i started.

Not sure if I'm doing something wrong, or if there is a better way, but I don't think it can be good for the steel to keep trying and failing.

If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Conor
 
I haven't seen O1 mentioned specifically, but the thermal cycling method that Stacy has in the stickies at the top of the page should work. I haven't worked with O1 for a long time, but that plus a slow cool should do it.
 
Strigamort said:
How do you know that it's not annealed? How did you receive the steel in a non-annealed state?
Click to expand...

This would be my first question.

My suggestion would be go out and get some vermiculite and a put it in a cooler. Heat your O-1 up to non magnetic and then put it into the vermiculite and just wait for it to cool down.

Info on the Heat treating and what not on O-1

http://www.cashenblades.com/steel/o1.html
 
Thanks for all your responses. And I bought it from a reputable source and they told me it wasn't annealed.
 
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