oil quench for 3v?

J

Justin King

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Nov 8, 2009
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Is anyone using an interrupted (or un-interrupted?) oil quench on cpm3v? Would this method work well and/or provide any benefits with thin sections like knife blades, or is a plate quench preferable for our purposes?
 
Plate quench is cleaner, but by the time you triple temper at 1000 degrees, it's really not about clean anyways. :(

Rob!
 
There are some knowledgeable folks (Landis) who suggest an oil quench of 3V (to minimize RA and certain carbides) a trip to Mf (probably in the neighborhood of -100F) and low temperature tempering for 3V, avoiding the secondary hardening hump, which is characterized by larger carbide fraction and carbon lean martensite, which would be less stable in very thin cross sections.

3V appears to me to be somewhat similar to HSS, which is frequently oil quenched to non red hot, and then air cooled.

There is no doubt in my mind that plate quenched would be cleaner and straighter.




edit to add. Plunging 2000+ deg steel into oil and pulling at 800F is a good way to lose your eyebrows. Remember to lean away...
 
I was wondering about lower RA levels but am guessing that it is only marginally worthwhile if cryo is availible. I appreciate the replies.
 
mete said:
Triple temper has no use with 3V.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. We've been doing the triple temper because it's the only steel I can think of that Crucible actually recommends 3 tempers on their data sheet.

I guess this is one of those steels that sees great discrepancies about how it should be heat treated. :)

Rob!
 
OOOPPS , I was confusing things .I was thinking triple QUENCH .
For 3V double temper a third optional .
 
in knife blanks the AL plate is plenty fast i would however thing that thickness over 1/2 inch might be worth oil but with the mess and fumbling gettign the foil off before the oil dunk maybe not

i plate quench cryo and low temp temper (not the 2x 1000f )

if you over shoot the 1000f by 25f you can really soften the steel more then you want and i done liek the extra clean up of 4hours at temp
 
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