trouble annealing!!

W

willy m

Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Messages
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im having some problems. i had an old crosscut saw given to me. ive used it to make a few knives. my problem is this, whenever i go to anneal this steel its always bent when it comes out of my forge (made from a 3lb coffee can) i think mabey the reason is i havent been able to get my rack level. i made a rack across the bottom of my forge with 16penny nails. what would make a better rack? this steel seems to be really hard and flexible. does anybody know what those saws were typically made from? if i just allow it to air cool from red-hot it is still verry hard. it gives me alot of problems when drilling. even when put into sand to cool. any ideas would be appreciated!!!
thanks willy....:confused:
 
I have read that saw blades tend to be made from L-6. You could take two pieces of larger steel, lay the saw blade pieces in between the other pieces and wrap the sandwich in some wire to hold it together. You would then put the sandwich in your forge once its up to temperature then shut off the gas and let the forge and metal cool at the same rate. I don't think your forge would be large enough for this though so perhaps there is a smith near you. You should fill out your profile more so other knife makers know where you are.

If you want you can send me the pieces and I'll anneal the pieces the same way I do O1.

-Dan
 
Or you could just stick to the simple steels that do not need to be annealed after forging and normalizing. 5160, 1070,1080 or 1084 are just about all I use except for the alloy steels with lower carbon for hammers.
 
i am in the process of ordering 1095 from jantz. this is the only steel i have at the moment, i am to impatient to wait. ive made 6 knives so far and have gotten 3 to turn out well. the other 3 are in the circular file due to problems annealing. i would love to post the pics. but dont know how. #1 am not verry computer literate. #2 i think i read you have to be a paying member to post pics. my cash flow is at a slow trickle. so as soonas i can i will be a paying mem. i have been using saw steel cause it was free and thats all i can afford at the moment. i live in central pa and havent heard of anyone even close.
 
Make sure you're getting it hot enough then leave it in the forge ,shut off the forge and let cool.
 
I use saw blades a lot and I just cut out the shape then drill the holes with a cobolt drill no annealing.I then heat up the edge with a torch and quench it in oil
 
i have trouble drilling even with cobalt bits.i even have trouble marking with center punch!! i have another blade am hoping to have better luck with it. soon i should have some 1095 from jantz, i dont have to anneal it do i?:(:confused::o:(
 
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