O1 Better Corrosion Resistance than 1084?

[colu41]

As the title asks. Is it?

I want to switch it up from my normal 1084 but, with my homemade forge I can get a nice 1084 blade from. But O1 I probably wont get the steels full potential.

I'm also looking for something a little more corrosion resistant as my 1084 blades seem to color very easily. If O1 is heat treatable at home, and gets at least the same performance as my 1084 blades, I want to try it out. Any suggestions?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Corrosion resistance....
Technically, probably a bit better.
Practically, it won't be a noticeable difference.

In O-1, the small amount of chromium and tungsten use the small bit of excess carbon and make carbides, this leaves no free chromium to be corrosion resistant. The basic mix is 1084 with a few distributed carbides.

 

[colu41]

Corrosion resistance....
Technically, probably a bit better.
Practically, it won't be a noticeable difference.

In O-1, the small amount of chromium and tungsten use the small bit of excess carbon and make carbides, this leaves no free chromium to be corrosion resistant. The basic mix is 1084 with a few distributed carbides.

Interesting. Ok. Is there any home forge HT'ing steels out there that are noticeably corrosion resistant? I'm guessing that I am swinging at nothing here as my home forge is not temp controlled, so that eliminates MOST steels right there...

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Corrosion resistance is the realm of stainless and high alloy steels. They are not good forging choices, and require a HT oven for hardening. Corrosion isn't a problem with carbon and tools steels as long as the blades are properly maintained.

 

[S.Alexander]

Try some 15N20. You might have to forge weld some pieces together to get thick enough stock (if thicker stock k is available somewhere I am unaware). I find that the nickel in the steel provides it with some corrosion resistance when compared to 1084. It is also a very tough steel and takes a fine edge.

 

[colu41]

Try some 15N20. You might have to forge weld some pieces together to get thick enough stock (if thicker stock k is available somewhere I am unaware). I find that the nickel in the steel provides it with some corrosion resistance when compared to 1084. It is also a very tough steel and takes a fine edge.

Found some .130 at UsaKnife, but its hot rolled. As much as Id love to forge some knives, I dont have the equipment yet.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Duh, I forgot about 15N20. It has a tad of corrosion resistance. Aldo carries it. 4 feet of 1/8" by 1.5" is around $20.

 

[colu41]

Duh, I forgot about 15N20. It has a tad of corrosion resistance. Aldo carries it. 4 feet of 1/8" by 1.5" is around $20.

I did check Aldos, his sight is currently down for Blade Show. So I kept on looking. I may try that out.

Heat treating correctly it is all I'm worried about, but, I've heard and read a lot of people HTing very similar to 1084.

 

[S.Alexander]

Duh, I forgot about 15N20. It has a tad of corrosion resistance. Aldo carries it. 4 feet of 1/8" by 1.5" is around $20.

1/8" is pretty much the perfect size. I'm not sure why, but I thought he was only forging.

15n20 is one of my favorite steels. Now if Aldo only offered it in the annealed state, it would be perfect.

 

[colu41]

1/8" is pretty much the perfect size. I'm not sure why, but I thought he was only forging.

15n20 is one of my favorite steels. Now if Aldo only offered it in the annealed state, it would be perfect.

Aldos doesnt come annealed? That would suck for me. Man do I need to build me a bigger forge so I can start pounding some metal!

 

[S.Alexander]

Aldos doesnt come annealed? That would suck for me. Man do I need to build me a bigger forge so I can start pounding some metal!

No the thin stuff that I have is hardened around 42 hrc. I put it in the kiln at 1200 for 2 hours to soften it.

If you are using a grinder it is workable at 42 rhc. Files would be a pain I'd imagine.

 

[colu41]

No the thin stuff that I have is hardened around 42 hrc. I put it in the kiln at 1200 for 2 hours to soften it.

If you are using a grinder it is workable at 42 rhc. Files would be a pain I'd imagine.

Hm. Maybe I'll try some out. Either that or I'm very close to buying a billet of Alabama Damascus!

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Would 5160 be more corrosion resistant?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Not really. It is hypo-eutectoid,so non carbides, and that small an amount of free chromium really won't do much.