Slip-joint question

[boisebman]

I have a heat-treat question on blade and spring for slip joints. I made myself a one blade trapper out of ATS-34. Heat-treated them together and then tempered them at different temps to make the spring 56-57 rc. I carried and used the heck out of the knife for 6 months and then one day the spring snapped at the middle pin.

I was wondering what other makers do with heat-treating the spring ?

I also had the spring hardness checked and it was 57 rc.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Johnny Warner]

Spring RC should be around 45-47 for spring temper. The spring broke due to being to hard and was not functioning as a spring.

 

[Rusty McDonald]

I temper my ats34 springs at about 1225*F and they come out about 45rc hope that helps

 

[boisebman]

Thanks ! That is what I needed to know. Does anyone have a link for tempering temps on the internet for ats-34 ?

 

[Rusty McDonald]

http://www.evenheat-kiln.com/technical/heattreat/heattreat.htm
http://www.knives.com/heatreat.html

 

[Craigb]

http://www.evenheat-kiln.com/technical/heattreat/heattreat.htm

 

[Craigb]

Rusty, your just tooo fast.

The temp will vary on your oven. The actual temp shown may vary between equipment and age. Try starting at about 1150 and work up from there to get 45-47 rc.

Craig

 

[Rusty McDonald]

also if you look at cmp154 or 154cm the heat treat and tempering is the same. so here is another one.
http://www.crucibleservice.com/datash/ds154cmv2b1.pdf