Straightening annealed stock?

F

F. Allin Kahrl

Joined
Aug 20, 2004
Messages
211
I've got a bunch of cold-rolled annealed 1095 that I got cheap, which is good, but most of it is bowed, which is not. Anybody got tips for making it flat again? Since it's already annealed I'd rather not have to stick it in a forge and anneal it again, and, of course, it's too springy to grind it. I stick it on a mag chuck and it lays right down, pull it off, and it springs right back. Argh!

Thanks

-Allin
 
I've had that problem too with some 1075 bar stock (1/4 X 2). The torch and a vise is too much trouble for the big stuff. After cutting to length I placed in furnace (oven-what ever you like calling it) and heated to about 1000 F and placed between plates and stood on the top plate until cool. I think I had to experiment with the temperature and it may have ended up a little higher than 1000 F, don't remember for sure. It all drilled and machined just fine.

RL
 
Not to highjack, but I scored a bunch of 1/8" spring steel from an M113, but all with a slight bow. It is not annealed obviously, so I guess I could heat and sandwich it also...would that work?
 
Bend it! Most annealed stocks can be bent by hand. 1/8" should be easy. I usually put one end on the bench, lean on it and pull the other end up by hand until it stays eye straight. You usually have to fuss with it but over bending a little in the opposite direction will fix the problem.
 
Yes, it should straighten. In your case you do not have to be as concerned about temperature.

RL
 
After the steel is cut to length, and before you profile it, just put it between a couple blocks of wood on your bench and lean on it. It'll straighten out. Use your surface plate to measure the flatness of it. Straightness is something to work on throughout the whole process, not just once. Stresses and structure can warp a blade slightly. Proper heat treating and normalizing techniques usually help too. I tend to normalize my steel after grinding, and before HT.
 
Wow, your blades are warped even before you heat treat them ???? Just put in an equal and opposite heat treat warp and the two will cancel each other !!!!
 
Jeff, you're a big boy but I don't have the ass for that 1/4 inch stuff. It budges me, I not it.

Mete, I was hoping to get some book learning from you and instead you jest. It is good to see you poke.

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