stress relieving

[HSC ///]

I generally stress relief the steel that I obtain usually at around 1200 to 1250°F and I shut off the furnace and Let it cool overnight.

question Larrin , is the act of reaching the stress relieving temperature of a 1200°F and holding sufficient for completing the stress relief? or does it require the slow cool down to complete the process?

in other words, if you take forged apexultra and then take it up to the stress relieving temperature, could you move straight to the austenitizing for hardening?

 

[Larrin]

The cooling rate to room temperature doesn’t matter for stress relieving, so I think it would be possible.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I agree with Larrin.
Once you reach the sub-critical temp, the slow drop won't be needed since you are not bringing it down to soften the steel for machining. The rise to Ac temp will finish the job and it should quench just fine.

 

[Larrin]

Cooling isn’t necessary for softening either. The stress relieving is done at the high temperature. Even with annealing once the transformation is complete the cooling rate isn’t important after because there isn’t anything else that happens.

 

[HSC ///]

Cooling isn’t necessary for softening either. The stress relieving is done at the high temperature. Even with annealing once the transformation is complete the cooling rate isn’t important after because there isn’t anything else that happens.

thanks, i just reread the paragraph in your article where you speak about this.