W2 Temper advice? please help!

T

tone1132

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Feb 16, 2009
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98
Well i hardened a W2 blade in 140degree oil. it is hard as a rock. now to temper, is it 400F for 1 hour with a break 3 times? any specific info on the temper method would be awesome, even a point in the right direction or if this has already been covered (sure it has) a link to the apropriate thread would be great! thanks so much!
 
I usually do 2 two hour cycles and allow the blade to cool to room temp between cycles. Temp is 400f.
 
hey Mr.Hoover, thanks ive done two 1 hour cycles at 400. im doin a 3rd, its it ok? i apreciate the info! :)
 
Color is insignificant, as surface oils and such can create all sorts of surface colors. If using color as a guide, it should be a bronze color.
If you do three one hour cycles you are fine, but next time do two two hour cycles.
 
W2; If you reached full hardness when quenched, hardness at 400f temper will likely be 62-63. The blade will perform great at that hardness, but for very heavy use, you might want to up the temp to 425f or 450f.

I temper for 1 hour, twice. But more time is fine also.
 
I would agree with Don. I would go at 450°. High Rc's impress many people, until they need to resharpen.
 
There was a thread over in reviews and testing that convinced me the opposite was true in many cases. In any case, if the maker/Original Poster finds 400 is too low, it's easier to go up to 450 than have to completely reharden if the desired hardness was overshot.
 
i did 400 for 3 one hour cycles and it developed a nice bronze color, polished it up and its holding the edge just fine:) thanks again!
 
different quenching temperature result some difference when tempering. for example, w2（0.88%c） hardened from 790°C and 840 °C，both tempering at same temperature will result different toughness vs hardness curves.

what was the temperature the last time you harden the steel? and you also have to try avoid the range of tempering brittleness, which i think its arround 250°C something. i am not 100% sure on range of tempering brittleness for w2 tough, you need to check the toughness vs tempering temperature curve.
 
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