Using "recalled" W2?

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
Hi Guys,

As most of you know, Aldo issued a recall or replacement for a batch of W2 that tested unfavorably. I've been compensated, but of course, still have the steel. Since Aldo said Brad from Peters Heat Treating got good results with water, I thought I'd try to make a hawk with it. Even if I get a hardness around 50Rc, it should be okay, shouldn't it? What do you guys think?
 
For you, sure. For a customer, no way. Thats a lot of time for a maybe. I'd sure use it to make little tools and such for myself though. How much are you stuck with? What does unfavorably mean? (In other words, what's wrong?!) Sorry for answering with more questions....
 
David, I received a bar of Aldo's W-2 in the 1/8" thickness, and had just got a knife ready (stock removal) for heat treat when I got the email from Aldo explaining problems they were experiencing. He replied, in another thread, that the RC hardness was all over the place for any given blank. He did say that a 1600 degree temp, along with a brine quench would get to 60.....but the thing is......there are "soft" spots scattered throughout the whole billet. It's hit or miss. I was in the same exact shoe you're in now.....do I bother, or not? I did the recommended quench, and tempered twice, one hour each, 350. The edge is really really hard. I mean....hard. Like it should be. But in the body of the blade you can definitely see these places where the "anomolies" are. These "spots" are identical to the problems experienced by another guy, documented in another forum. I had done a clay coat, and you can see the hamon easy already....but in the hardened area there are "spots". I'm not going to concern myself with a fine surface finish on this blade because of these spots.....which really sucks.....because I got the W2 to produce nice hamons. I'm just going to put a 400 grit finish and a paracord wrap around the handle....and use and abuse it. To be honest.....I was hoping that maybe the bar I received might be OK....but clearly that's not the case. Like someone said, maybe they got the steel too hot when the were rolling it.
 
samuraistuart said:
David, I received a bar of Aldo's W-2 in the 1/8" thickness, and had just got a knife ready (stock removal) for heat treat when I got the email from Aldo explaining problems they were experiencing. He replied, in another thread, that the RC hardness was all over the place for any given blank. He did say that a 1600 degree temp, along with a brine quench would get to 60.....but the thing is......there are "soft" spots scattered throughout the whole billet. It's hit or miss. I was in the same exact shoe you're in now.....do I bother, or not? I did the recommended quench, and tempered twice, one hour each, 350. The edge is really really hard. I mean....hard. Like it should be. But in the body of the blade you can definitely see these places where the "anomolies" are. These "spots" are identical to the problems experienced by another guy, documented in another forum. I had done a clay coat, and you can see the hamon easy already....but in the hardened area there are "spots". I'm not going to concern myself with a fine surface finish on this blade because of these spots.....which really sucks.....because I got the W2 to produce nice hamons. I'm just going to put a 400 grit finish and a paracord wrap around the handle....and use and abuse it. To be honest.....I was hoping that maybe the bar I received might be OK....but clearly that's not the case. Like someone said, maybe they got the steel too hot when the were rolling it.
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(sigh). I was hoping maybe I could do a hawk, or a spearhead, or something other than a knife which doesn't require a super hard edge, but it sounds awful. Maybe I'll use it to start my new grinder build. Thanks
 
I made a wakizashi today out of my stash of recalled w2 from aldo and it came out perfect. preformed exactly like every other bar of w2 i have ht'ed. digitally controlled kiln. 1470 soaked for 5 minutes.. quenched in water. great hamon with no issues with unhardened spots. i figured all of my w2 was worthless but now i am not so sure.

Andrew
 
Maybe someone could use them for the outer layers of a san mai piece and get some wild differential hardening patterns.

That's probably a horrible idea though...
 
mix with 15n20 or pure nickle and make dammy gaurd stock
that or make jigs and fixtures with it (i need a lathe rest for my wood lathe for turning bowls :) )
 
Gentlemen,

I was given full credit for the BAD W-2 load. I will be SCRAPPING 15,000 pounds of the stuff this week. I suggest you do the same. As for the reason for the problem, the mill is still working on and there is no sense in guessing. I will put the report up when I receive it. I realize it is quite frustrating. You can't begin to imagine how much it is for me.

Thank you,
Aldo
 
David Stifle said:
Hi Guys,

As most of you know, Aldo issued a recall or replacement for a batch of W2 that tested unfavorably. I've been compensated, but of course, still have the steel. Since Aldo said Brad from Peters Heat Treating got good results with water, I thought I'd try to make a hawk with it. Even if I get a hardness around 50Rc, it should be okay, shouldn't it? What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Considering all work, time, cost, other materials that you need to spend on a knife/hawk, using "bad steel" is just a waste of resources.
 
Aldo that is a headache of epic proportions that can't even be imagined. I'd started on two blades "just to see", but my common sense (spelled wife) talked me out of it. Got em ready to be normalized and then she came along and said smarter not harder and so there ya go. Did 15 blades out of that 1084 ya sent me instead.
 
has anyone had any other issues other than a lack of hardness? the wakizashi has a stellar hamon. At this moment I am glad i gave it a go with the recalled w2.
 
andrieux said:
has anyone had any other issues other than a lack of hardness? the wakizashi has a stellar hamon. At this moment I am glad i gave it a go with the recalled w2.
Click to expand...

Have you put it to the test? How does it cut? 2X4's, rope, etc? If you got it hard enough, you may have just gotten lucky, but I've decided to not play with any of the recalled steel myself.
 
ill certainly put it through the testing. Im curious to see how it does. from the looks and feel of it, it turned out well. nice hamon with utsuri. a uniformly hard edge and nice, normal flexibility. I wouldnt sell this as it is from a recalled material but i did have fun in knowing that regardless of the initial results the steel offered a chance to play without sacrificing income from my work, which i generally cannot afford to do.

Andrew
 
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You can always use in stead of mild steel to wrap around the hawk handle. It would look really cool if you could get a hamon on it. like flames coming off the edge.
 
I was thinking of forging out a pair of spurs. Not done that before.
 
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