Time and Temp Recommendations for Straightening ATS-34

N

navasky

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Dec 7, 2009
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I just got back some ATS-34 blades from a commercial heat treater and noticed some of them are pretty warped. I generally use the clamp straight and temper method but these are already at the final hardness I want them to be at and I don't have much experience with stainless. Does anyone have experience with straightening steel without softening it too much? These are already at RC 59, would 1 hour at 400 F do it? Thanks for any help.
 
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I can't help you with taking the warp out, but in my opinion, a commercial heat treater should NOT send out warped blades. I have used Paul Bos heat treating since around 1980 and have never gotten a warped blade back. I probably have sent maybe 60 blades a year to Bos heat treating. They have always done a great job.
 
- The whole thing is not so alloy dependant, the young modulus work the same way for iron alloyies...400 °F will allow taking new set quite easily.
- The blade has to be in temperature during the whole straightening procedure, generally reheating it's on demand a few times, proceeding in steps.
- If you have the blade already tempered to the desired hrc, any time at less than the tempering temperature won't drop your hrc but will be useful to temporary lower the yeld point for straightening.

Knifemaking has gotten less stressful once i've got the straightening thing figured out :)
 
LOL Stefano !
Hardened steel should be straightened at minimum 400 F. If the original tempering was higher you could use that.
There's no excuse for a HTer to send out warped blades !!
 
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