Sub zero question

rodriguez7

Gila wilderness knife works
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Feb 1, 2009
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is there any benefit to sub zero 80crv2, 15n20, or cruforge v? And how would I go about doing it? Dry ice and acetone I know. But do I do this after quench, before my first temper?
 
Sub zero does one thing....conversion of RA. There is so little RA in those steels you won't notice any change in performance. Now, if you're aus temp is too high, and thus getting a lower HRC post quench, then you likely have too much RA. Back off on the temp, the HRC goes up and will max out at some temperature (usually in the 1475F range for hyper eutectoids, and 1500F for eutectoids), and the RA will be extremely low. You may be able to convert more of it with the sub zero, but your HRC will not go up, thus telling you that VERY VERY little was converted.

Yes, sub zero or cryo (LN2) is best done immediately after quench to room temp, and prior to the first temper.

There will be extremely little to NO benefit using sub zero with those steels. However, LN2 is a different story. Not only does it convert the RA, but allows for the precip of very very fine carbides upon tempering. Topic for another thread.
 
Thanks for reply, I understand what it does, just didn't know if it was beneficial on these steels. I'm learning. Hopefully by next year, I'll have my oven, and deware. Then I can start working with better steels. I'm just trying to maximize what I have the ability to work with for now.
 
I do have a friend that has some liquid nitrogen I think. Would probably be a fun experiment.
 
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