Post heat treating 1084 Question

[Sprayman]

Hello, bladesmiths.

I'm going to heat treat a skinner made from 1084. After the quench, how long and at what temp should I temper it in the oven? I know some people do one cycle, and some two. Any advice?

Thanks

 

[Knife freaky]

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/heat-treating-and-temering-1084.980622/

Post number four will tell you exactly how to do it.

Daniel.

 

[i4Marc]

Two tempers. Why?

Because When you quench you get brittle Martensite, but you also get some retained Austenite. When you run your first temper cycle your brittle Martensite becomes tempered Martensite. Your retained Austenite makes the transformation to brittle Martensite which now must be tempered. Hence the second temper which converts the newly formed brittle Martensite into tempered Martensite.

 

[mete]

The basic idea is - the more complex the alloy the more temper cycles up to three.
The 1084 is a simple carbon steel so one cycle should do it . Do two hours per cycle . An extra cycle won't hurt but not necessary. Usually written as 2 x2 at 400F [ two, two hour cycles at 400 F .

 

[jdm61]

1500/400 works fine for 1084

 

[scott.livesey]

turn down the heat a little and live on the hard side. for 1084, if you have to wait to temper, hold the blades in ice water bath. do first temper at 350-375F, for 1/8" and thinner 1 hour is fine. quench in cold water, now is a good time to scrub with soap and green scotch brite. do second temper at 325F for an hour.

 

[Ian Fifelski]

I agree with scott.livesey. One, one hour temper at 375 F is what I do for smaller blades that don't need a ton of toughness. Knives are made to cut, not to be pry-bars.