tempering 0-1

[tejas7]

I gring and heat treat my own 0-1 and 5160 blades. My question concerns tempering. I have seen it recommended that 0-1 be tempered at 325 to 350 degrees. My chart from the steel manufactorer shows that this would result in a Rockwell way up in the 60's. Which I think would be prone to chipping.

What is the proper temp for getting a blade with a Rockwell of 59-60?

How about 5160?

 

[Walt Welch]

Tejas7; you may wish to peruse the Principal Metals site for information of this type:
http://www.principalmetals.com/

They have quite a number of alloys listed, and the composition, applications and heat treating information are provided. Just check under 'Property Data'--> 'Tool Steels'--> '01.'

Another good site to peruse is the Crucible Particle Metallurgy site:
http://www.crucibleservice.com/

Click on 'Heat Treating and Fabrication of Tool Steels,' and also click on 'Tool Steels,' for lots of information on this subject, as well as an article, 'Selecting High Performance Tool Steels.'

Hope this helps, Walt

 

[Osbourn]

The factory specs on heat treating are for a 1"x1" cross section of steel, not a triangular wedge cross section that a knife ends up being, so heat treating a knife is very different. A 325-350 degree temper will have a much more drastic effect on a knife, and you'll find that the rockwell hardness will likely be a bit lower than those specs.
Just something to bear in mind.

------------------
Oz

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
- Henry J. Kaiser

 

[Parabellum 9]

Rockwell hardness is a term that gets bandied around a bit. It should be Rockwell C scale or Rc. There is no way to check your results without a hardness tester, but these are usually beyond the means of most metalworkers.
J&G Industrial (1-800-521 9520} has, on page 1408 of their current catalog a portable hardness tester for $135 that will measure from 20 Rc to 65Rc. It says that it will only measure 1/4 inch and up thickness, but if you harden, temper a similar piece of scrap steel and temporarily bind it to your blade, it will read out true. J&G also sells ground flat stock.