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O1 Forgability

J

jlwamp

Joined
Aug 8, 2016
Messages
14
Hey, everyone.
I have some O1 left from some stock removal I was doing and was wondering how easy it is to forge for a beginner or just in general.
I know there are other steels that are better for beginner forging but was just wondering if it would be a wasted effort on the O1 I already have.

I plan to practice on some mild steel and then proceed with whatever steel yal suggest.

Thanks,
John
 
You can forge it, but it's not very easy to forge--or at least it hasn't been, for me! 1084 is so much easier to move with a hammer.
 
You can forge it but it's not going to easy. It's one of the more stubborn steels to move and can get red short meaning you have a narrow forging temperature window to forge in. If you hit it at low temps you could put micro-fractures in it. Oh and it does air harden a bit as well.
 
O-1 forges quite well. It is basically 1095 with a little CR, W, and sometimes V. Rhese alloys make it slightly hot hard.

It has a forging range just like most hot-work steels do. Work it between 1900F and 1600F and you will have no problem. It has to be fully at heat before you start the forging, so give it a fairly good soak on each heat. Turn your forge down so it isn't too hot, as it like a more gentle heating.

Work it too cold and it will wear your arm out ... or crack. Do not hammer cold O-1 - In forging terms, cold is below 1500F.

Quench in medium speed oil.
 
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