Peer Check Please

Judcargile

Judcargile

Joined
Jul 3, 2022
Messages
145
I am now putting edges on my first batch!!!

AEBL @ 1985F (temp does costantly move +/- 15F) for 10-15 minutes soak.

Aluminum plate quench 1' , 1 1/2" thick plates and transfer to 3x9 plates and clamp to submerge in bucket.

When I have cleared the forge, they all go into LN2 together for 1 hr.

Temper twice @ 300 for 2 hr,

HRC tester shows 63, consistantly, yet, I can get the longer blades to flex and shaves after beating down some of the bamboo that is overtaking my backyard. Happy, Happy, Happy.

I surface grind to about .160 and would like to take blades to full finish before HT on this next batch.

I also have some Magnacut that I would like to try out. Seems to be that I add 50F and more or less repeat the AEBL.

My handles and sheaths are getting better and better, but, the 15 or so that I have done are gifts for my beta testers.

I have high hopes that I can apply lessons learned and get this next batch to market. Including some Magnacut will only help that outcome, IF, I can work it.

Please advise.

Thank you all for all of the help.

I also would like to ask if any smith is ever truly happy with their fit and finish?
 
Why do you want to go to full finish before heat treat? A 30° swing in your oven is a lot if you expect to get consistent results.
 
I tried the laquer on the first couple and it pitted deeply.
Then I went to the water based compound and only had surface scale, similar to what I had seen others do with the foil wrap.
I did say full finish, but, up to begin hand sanding would save belts and time. I should hope. I did these with rough grind and no closer, beause I was not sure effective the anti scale was going to be.

The upper and lower end is 15F at most, but also will spread 7F before rebound as well.
I am seeing 5 even cycles and the average temp is 10F over the recommended temp. I do believe that the steel will always lag, compared to ambient temperature. It is in constant motion. I am staying longer in soak and believe that all said and done, I am getting them into full solution and I THINK that as long as everything is, in fact, in solution; Regardless of actual temp and time; When you are fully in solution, you can plumet temp and lock those molecules down.

My tester throws the same reading on my cal block and it throws the same reading across this batch.

Having tested an AEBL blade with .160 spine and 17deg secondary on bamboo and come out clean, I really want to know if Magnacut is going to be a whole other approach.

I heard that HT ovens have the same 15F swing. I would be interested to be shown that this is not the case. I do not care about claims in a manual. I want to see a thermocouple co wittness the set point.

Having said all of that, your point is valid. If I could hold temp tighter, I would: Just not with a $3K oven upgrade. ;)
 
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