Tempering A2

[baymktg]

I live in Costa Rica, a 3rd world country. I was not able to find A2 here in less than 1/4" and had a friend bring 1/8" and 3/16" down for me. Question, I have found a company(?) that heat treats A2 and says they temper. I don't know to believe or not on the tempering. If they do temper, can I hurt the steel if I temper 2 more times in my oven?

 

[Dan Pierson]

Repeated tempering won't hurt it. The highest temperature the steel is tempered at will pretty much determine the results so you want to check both your oven accuracy and what temp the heat treating company uses.

I tend to temper A2 for two hours three times, the last two at 500 F (the first is a snap temper in a toaster oven that can't get that hot).

 

[JBS TOOLMAKER]

I second Mr. Piersons recipe. When my A-2 cools to room temp from quench, I put it on the Rc. tester. Then it get's tempered in the kitchen oven at 400 ( while the paragon is cooling down ) Then it goes in the paragon @ 500 for two hours twice.

 

[Jeremy Horton]

I run a tad bit different temper cycle,, A2 is very forgiving,, I run 3 one hour and 30 min tempers, 500 475 450. I used to even wear the same shirt everytime I treated, just so It would always turn out the same,, lol,

 

[JBS TOOLMAKER]

I usualy consult Miss Cleo at the psychic friends hotline. That chic knows her tool steel.

 

[Leu Custom]

I run a tad bit different temper cycle,, A2 is very forgiving,, I run 3 one hour and 30 min tempers, 500 475 450. I used to even wear the same shirt everytime I treated, just so It would always turn out the same,, lol,

Why do you go down by 25 degrees instead of go up Horton?.

 

[Jeremy Horton]

thats just the way i have always done it,, i probably do all kinds of stuff wrong,, but just got taught that way, by old guys in the machine shop, i work in,, has always worked for me.. like i always say,, knives are not Data,,, lol