So 15n20 is some tough stuff

Well....it worked
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But I REALLY don't wanna have to do this with EVERY knife
 
Well I'm guessing that drill bit was trashed. I stared grinding of that piece that is sticking out with a used 200 grit (didn't feel like changing belts) and it ground VERY easy. Guessing i annealed it properly. Put a 3/16 bit in and drilled 8 holes like it was nothing.
 
JTknives said:
Be carful spot anealing 15n20. It can have a tendency to air harden if heated and left to air cool. I found this out the hard way on damascus. My 15n20 comes from bandsaw blades and sits at 42-43rc and drills fine. But the trick to drilling steel is to go as slow as you can. The charts are all well and fine but usaly end up being for perfect conditions in a ridgid machine like a mill with coolant. And even the on those machines I never pushed them that hard.
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I drill hundreds hole is 15n20 steel in that range of hardness.Most not knife related , but I learned fast that this steel like slow speed and when you start drilling DON 'T stop .Whenever I stop , drill /cobalt one / start to squealed and forget about drilling that hole .... But I like this steel , so easy to harden and so good for knive !
 
Why would 15n20 be sold hardened? Doesn't make any sense to me.

I get it from Aldo so I know it is annealed.
 
What about using a "center" drill. Probably a #3 the short stout flutes keep drill chatter down. I'd still use coolant and the slowest speed you have.
 
I use 15n20 from AKS for most of my knives these days. I quickly realized that I was dealing with a whole different animal than Aldo's 1084, but it didn't occur to me that it might be hardened. I did need to invest in better cobalt bits, it drills fine but will work harden if your not cutting. I cold stamp my makers mark with a press, and although its tough, I still get a good stamp with just a 6 ton. I got a cobalt step bit for drilling weight reduction holes, and various cobalt bits from drill America for my corby bolt holes.
I'll test a piece when I get home this evening to see what the Rc is at as received.
 
I used 3/16" HSS Cobalt bits that I buy in a 10 pack from Amazon. The bit I used wasn't new and I didn't use any oil. I think I was around 550 rpm and it gave me 2 4" long shavings. I'm using a cheap benchtop press.
Are you using enough pressure? Maybe it's work hardening before you get into it

I was using the .95 stock that I received last week from Aldo.
 
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I was going to say that I have used .072 15N20 in its "unhardened" state obtained from Aldo in precut 6 x 1.5 strips as a scraper for woods like ebony and blackwood. ;)
A.McPherson said:
Cause it often comes from cut up band saw blades...
Aldo gets his from a steel mill, so it's annealed.
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Alpha Knife Supply said:
Per Uddeholm, the hardness of the 15N20 we sell is HRC 36-40.

Chuck
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I’d recommend you get a drill doctor or learn how to sharpen your drill bits yourself. I drill tons of holes in all types of steel and haven’t had to buy a drill bit in years
 
E.Carlson said:
I use 15n20 from AKS for most of my knives these days. I quickly realized that I was dealing with a whole different animal than Aldo's 1084, but it didn't occur to me that it might be hardened. I did need to invest in better cobalt bits, it drills fine but will work harden if your not cutting. I cold stamp my makers mark with a press, and although its tough, I still get a good stamp with just a 6 ton. I got a cobalt step bit for drilling weight reduction holes, and various cobalt bits from drill America for my corby bolt holes.
I'll test a piece when I get home this evening to see what the Rc is at as received.
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I'm seeing about 43 hrc on the .12 stock I have.
 
Willie71 said:
If you have a kiln, 2h at 1200f will soften it up nicely.
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That's what we do. Just put a big stack in the kiln, set the program and walk away. Though we do a full anneal, up to temp then let it cool down inside the kiln. Either way will work fine..
Ive done it in the forge too. We have a big tub of ashes that Lisa anneals axe heads in. Just bring it up to appx °1475 then bury it in the ashes. Comes out super soft like that too
 
I have thought about offering some of my 15n20 cut up into strips and softened for easier use. I think most people the get the stuff I have use it for damascus so I have not worried about it in the past.
 
I'm thinking it was the drill bit or I some how work hardened the piece. I cut out a blank from the same 23.5in stick as the other piece. And drilled .187 holes just fine. With no problem.
 
So the stuff from AKS is already hardened and tempered, or its that way straight from the mill?
 
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