What happens to steel left in forge for months?

I have done some simple spark testing on overcooked stock and have found a very noticable difference in the sprak patterns. Enough difference that those pieces went in the junk basket. The grain was also remarkably different and not in a good way. Letter openers do sell. T
 
okay...just to let everyone know what I learned today..


Last night I was working with my forge, and saw the left over section of 5160 still in there . As it was already red hot I placed it into a tub of vermiculite for the night.

this morning I took the steel and placed it into the vice between two sections of plywood.

the pipe went over the tang, and I was just starting to bend the blade when it snapped.

I dont have a clue as to if its grain size is big or small compared to others, but It sure looks big. I can see what must be the grain very clearly.

this will wrap up my experiment...clearly the blade is a lost cause....from now on it will only help keep my other blades company as they all cool....
 
Live and learn, DaQo'Tah.... this is a big part of our craft, the experiments that teach us how to make a better knife. Remember, we learn from our failures far more than our successes..

Have fun.
 
large grains can look cool but not in knives. At the glass facory where I used to work some part on the tempering oven broke and the grains were almost 1/4 inch. not sure what steel it was but that oven sits at 1250f and only gets turned off for cleaning once a month. it looked really neat.
 
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