spheriod anneal

clint c

clint c

Joined
Aug 21, 2001
Messages
397
Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone out there knew what the proper time and temperature combinations would be to spheriod anneal carbon steels such as 1084/1095 and basic alloys such as 0-1/52100 etc. I'm sure they are all a little different, but must be fairly similar also. The reason I ask is a friend of mine has a heat treat oven, and we thought we might try this spheriod anneal out on some of my 1084/L-6 damascus. Just to see what, if any, differences come out of it from regualr old vermiculite anneal. I understand it can make a difference with steels like 0-1 and 52100, but have never seen any technical info. on it.

Thanks for your input,

Clint Chisan
 
Spheroidization takes place just under the A1 temperture of 1340F. I would recommend holding the steel at 1300F for several hours.

Daniel Watson
 
It takes 40 minutes to spherodize at temps between 1300f and 1340f I do it on all simple carbon blade steels but L6 is reluctunt to completely soften. It does anneal enough to drill nicely though.
 
Thanks for your input, gentlmen. I'll cook them at 1350 for three hours and see how they turn out.

Clint
 
I have been steadily lowering my annealing temp on 52100 after three normalizing heats. 800 f is providing about what I achieved at 1000 f. Soak for two hours cool in oven to room temp, three cycles. The steel is soft enough to drill, file, grind, what ever you need to do. I can't find any reason to go to a higher heat.
 
Thanks Ed. I'm sure because your doing it this way, it is after much experimentation and you've seen the benefits, which for your caliber of knives must be grain size in the steel almost unmeasurably small! As I've seen you state in your book, damascus won't be 52100 in the performance department, but I'm always looking for a better method to enhance performance, no matter the material. Thanks for all the great writing and info sharing you do.

Clint
 
In this instance I recommend spheroidization rather than annealing. The longer heat may be necessary both because this is damascus and because the L6 may respond more slowly. At the temperatures neccesary for welding there is sufficient opportunity for grain growth which annealing will not help remedy, but spheroidization might.

Daniel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top