Normalize 440C?

[smorgan345]

I'm going to try and make some paring knives for xmas gifts. I got 3/32" thick bar stock, annealed from Admiral. I'm doing stock removal and and using an Evenheat oven. Would it be a good idea to normalize the blades after grinding prior to HT? If so, any ideas on an ideal method or temp to normalize that particular steel? Thanks for any input.
S

 

[SBuzek]

No real need to normalize,soak it at 1250 for 15 min,then ramp to 1600 for 15 min then on to 1875 for 30 min and then plate quench and it will be fine.
Stan

 

[smorgan345]

No real need to normalize,soak it at 1250 for 15 min,then ramp to 1600 for 15 min then on to 1875 for 30 min and then plate quench and it will be fine.
Stan

Thanks Stan. After that I was thinking I would temper twice for two hours at325F? Does that sound ok to you? Just for the sake of knowing, if I did want to normalize 440C, do you have any idea how I would do that? Thanks again.
Scott

 

[SBuzek]

325 is ok,thats what i use,to normalize or anneal heat to 1600 hold for 1 hour cool no faster than 25 deg per hour to 1200 then let cool in kiln to ambient.
Stan

 

[me2]

If you check around, I think you'll find that most steel companies specifically say do not normalize. Normalizing 440C (or any other air hardening steel) will harden it. If that's what you're after, have at it. Carpenter and Crucible make 440C, and their data sheets are available on their websites. Other companies make it too, but these are the ones I'm most familiar with.