s35vn for a slippie?

peter r

peter r

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
1,690
im making a slipjoint, and was wondering if s35vn would do for the blade and spring?
 
Would make a great blade, but the spring doesn't need to be blade quality, I'm thinking.
 
Cruclible spec sheets only show a way to get it down to RHC 57. Probably not soft enough for a spring. You'd be experimenting for ways to get it that soft. I'm thinking I'd be using something a little more predictable for spring performance. - or you could be one of the S35VN pioneers! :cool:

Rob!
 
i get it annealed from the supplier. and i dont have a tester, but im sure its less than 57. i can bend it easy, but when i use pliers it doesnt spring very well it just takes the shape of the bend.

if i ht it to 58-59 will it retain its form better under stress?
 
Yup. Annealed it bends but no spring - and at higher hardness, it will not serve well as a spring. I'm not an expert, but most makers ask me to harden springs to 48-50.
 
According to the Evenheat heat treating guide, some stainless is tempered around 1200° F for 2 hours one time to get 43-45 RHC for springs. I don't know that it would work, but it's a place to start. Let us know. With such a new steel you may be doing pioneering work.
 
I have had much the same question in mind for RWL34. It has a secondary peak on tempering way out at 500degC and can be anywhere between 59Rc and 64Rc at that. I haven't really researched further but it seems like it would be smarter to find a steel designed to make springs, which will make a spring using the recommended heat treatment, than to try to use a premium cutting steel, designed to get really hard, and to try to Rube Goldberg the HT.

I wish you luck either way. :)
 
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