- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 63
Tryed to forge some O1. It developed what looked like a frog skin texture after being quenched directly from the forge. What did I do!?! I'm thinking I just got it way to hot. Is the steel ruined?
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O1 Frog Skin Texture!???!
- Thread starter KnghtWalkr
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2007
- Messages
- 1,354
Just surface grind it off with the bottom of your contact wheel ! 
If you exceeded 1500'F by quite a bit then maybe the blade is TOAST !
If you exceeded 1500'F by quite a bit then maybe the blade is TOAST !
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 38,512
Until you sand down the blade and see the steel, you don't know if there is a problem. Soak the blade in FC for 15 minutes, or vinegar for several hours, then sand it down to a clean surface at 220 grit. If there is a pattern at that point, you need to deal with it. If not, finish the blade.
If you were using an uncontrolled forge and guessing at the temps, then it is quite possible that you overheated it. In an open forge it is nearly impossible to try and soak a blade at 1500F for 10 minutes without overheating it. That will surely affect the surface oxidation ( first paragraph), but may also cause excessive grain growth. If you are in doubt about the quality or results of the quench, re-do the HT. Unless the blade was cracked, there is not much you can't fix.
Cycle the steel down to a good grain size first. This is done by heating the blade to about 1500-1600F and holding there for 10 minutes ( try and soak the blade each cycle if possible),and letting it air cool. Heat to 1500F,holding for 10 minutes if possible, then quenching the blade in oil. Heat it back up to about 1400F and repeat the quench. Heat to 1350F ( just above non-magnetic) and quench. Repeat at 1200F,cooling in still air, two more times. This should restore the grain size and stress relieve the blade. Re-do the hardening at 1450-1500F, 5-10 minute soak, and quench in oil. After all that there will surely be a layer of scale and decarb, so soak the blade in FC or vinegar for a while, and then sand the scale/decarb off.
Stacy
If you were using an uncontrolled forge and guessing at the temps, then it is quite possible that you overheated it. In an open forge it is nearly impossible to try and soak a blade at 1500F for 10 minutes without overheating it. That will surely affect the surface oxidation ( first paragraph), but may also cause excessive grain growth. If you are in doubt about the quality or results of the quench, re-do the HT. Unless the blade was cracked, there is not much you can't fix.
Cycle the steel down to a good grain size first. This is done by heating the blade to about 1500-1600F and holding there for 10 minutes ( try and soak the blade each cycle if possible),and letting it air cool. Heat to 1500F,holding for 10 minutes if possible, then quenching the blade in oil. Heat it back up to about 1400F and repeat the quench. Heat to 1350F ( just above non-magnetic) and quench. Repeat at 1200F,cooling in still air, two more times. This should restore the grain size and stress relieve the blade. Re-do the hardening at 1450-1500F, 5-10 minute soak, and quench in oil. After all that there will surely be a layer of scale and decarb, so soak the blade in FC or vinegar for a while, and then sand the scale/decarb off.
Stacy