W1 ht

[scs.knives]

Can W1 steel be heat treated primitively?

 

[mete]

Yes but you'd be much better off using 1080,1084.

 

[bennyb]

I'd like to hear more about this also. Just bought a bunch of w1 round stock.
It seems to be a great choice for a steel with just a little alloy. I was planning on heat treating in my forge and quenching in Mcmaster-carr 11 second oil. Will that work well enough? Appreciate any input.:thumbup:

 

[JasonSCarter]

Benny B, I do that quite often with a similar set up, so yes it can be done. You'll need to pay very close attention to temp though! W1 has little alloying elements so it doesn't need any real long soak time. I let mine go for a minute or 2 at least though. Now how do you know what's the right temperature? Simple go to your grocery store and buy you a can of Kosher Salt. Sodium Chloride melts at 1475 degrees F ... the perfect temp to quench W1 at! So put a line of salt on the blade. and slowly let it get up to temp. when the salt starts melting fast pull it and quench. Make sure your color is even though and thats hard to do in a coal forge.

W1 heat treat

 

[scs.knives]

Do you quench in water,brine,or oil?

 

[Dan Pierson]

W1 is pretty close to 1095 so it needs a little different treatment. Working the three steel types goes into it in detail.

The good news is that this is likely to be a good steel for hamons, if that's what you want.

 

[JasonSCarter]

I have learned my lesson on quenching in anything but real quenching oil. Any of the good fast quench oils will work. I have been quenching latley in a custom mix. but usually use the 11 sec you get at McMaster Carr.

Jason

 

[bennyb]

Thanks for the tip Jason, I'll try that.:thumbup: