Newbe`s guide to hardening o1

[Tinbasher]

A friend pointed me to this page ,it has some good info for newbe`s.
http://www.threeplanes.net/toolsteel.html

Hope this is the right place to post this.

 

[resinguy]

interesting stuff, but the Makers forum might be more appropriate.

 

[Cougar Allen]

 

[nate1714]

good link thanks!!

 

[Chris Meyer]

I would suggest that you not follow those instructions. The author says to heat the blade to non-magnetic, then quench it. The Currie Point (non-magnetic) is 1414 degrees F. According to the Heat Treater's Guide, O-1 needs to be heated to between 1450 and 1500 degrees, held at temp for 10 to 30 minutes, then quenched in oil. (For O-1 blades, the consensus seems to be that a 10 minute soak is sufficient.) If you follow those instructions, you could be under heating your blade by as much as 100 degrees F. Another problem with the magnet test is that the heating of the magnet itself causes inconsistencies.

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[LRB]

I agree with Chris. I would also add three normalizing cycles before the HT. Seems to reduce warp, and refines the grain.