problem with HT of 1095/15n20

[HSC ///]

I bought some Damascus from Dictum more than a year ago
I laminated it as a core with stainless cladding .

I made a small paring blank to test and it did not harden properly (too soft, edge rolled)
The data sheet with the steel called for hardening at 840C/1544F, I might have used lower than that back then

I put it aside and figured I would try again some other time.

I forged out a new larger kitchen knife from the billet and tried again, and again and again, different temps and different soak times, min of 10 mins
I'm quenching in Park 50 oil, Paragon furnace with sentry control, T/C checked.

As I cannot check a core steel with my hardness tester, I use several other methods to confirm sufficient hardness of the core... and I know the core is not reaching the hardness I need.

Any suggestions to get a hardness in the 61 RC range.?

 

[Willie71]

I think these billets will reach a max of Rc59/60, iirc, when I looked into them a few years back. I think it would only be useful as a cladding in a kitchen knife. I strongly doubt it is 1095/15n20. I can get Rc66/67 with a billet of that stuff.