What on earth happened? Forging help needed

G

godogs57

Joined
Apr 16, 2004
Messages
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Had this happen to me yesterday after forging a 52100 blade under the watchful eye of veteran forgers (one JS, plus other forging buddies). After banging out the blade I normalized twice and then buired it in vermiculite, taking it on home later. This was done last Saturday. Yesterday I took it out and began cleaning it up on the flat platen and then this crack appears. It even grew some as time went on! Obviously there was stress somewhere, but I don't know what I did to cause this. I am lucky though, that I did not have a ton of time invested in it....shoot, it could have happened much later in the game so to speak. I have seen this kind of crack before on the cutting edge but not on the spine of a blade.

I have made stock removal knives for 25 or so years but started forging this year after watching all my buddies. This was my 6th or 7th blade. I was super careful to only work the steel while hot (orange) and never while cooling down. The guys said I was doing OK, etc... so I was wondering if I needed to be a little more aware of something or another. My other blades turned out just fine, behaved as they should when quenching, pretty temper lines, etc. Perhaps its just something you get from time to time when forging?? I don't know, but would like to know.

Having a bunch of fun forging otherwise....any opinions, advice appreciated.

Have a great weekend,

Hank

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Take a look at Kevin's Hypereuctoid steel thread. There is some discussion there about annealing hypereuctoid steels by slow cooling in vermiculite, etc. That may have been the killer for you if I understand what I've read correctly.

-d
 
Forging too cold. Especially with 52100. To quote the ASM,"Forge at 2100F maximum, but do not forge after stock drops below 1695F.
Stacy
 
Thanks....I figured I forged it too cold....but I was careful not to do so, but shoot, thats all it could have been.

deker, I am going to read up on that as well...thanks.
 
Bulldog born and bulldog bread, when I die I'll be bulldog dead!

Gonna be a interesting year for us in 09 I'm afraid.
 
Probably too cold as stated above. but before we make that a definite lets look at some other possibilities. Forged too hot? If it were I would expect a spiderweb series of cracks but it only take one overheat on 51200 and it can be ruined. Also were did the material come from and what was the process of reducing it. If it came from a used bearing was it over stressed? If it was new material then who did the reduction from there? I am not disputing that forging too cold is the problem but just food for thought.
 
godogs you have several guys around you there that can help out. Are you a member of the the guild. They are having a meeting this coming weekend and there will be a bunch there that can help you out if you need it. If you do need more info holler back at me.
 
WadeH said:
godogs you have several guys around you there that can help out. Are you a member of the the guild. They are having a meeting this coming weekend and there will be a bunch there that can help you out if you need it. If you do need more info holler back at me.
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I'll be at the Mathew's shop this weekend for the meeting and we'd love to see you there godogs
 
Thanks for the invite folks....fighting the flu right now....will see how things are later on in the week. Take it easy.

Hank
 
Hank you will not find a better bunch to fall in with. Oh by the way, you name is misspelled, it is godawgs. :)
 
Not sure, but I'll second that overheating might have been the culpret. I'd quench and break and see what the grain looks like. If it's large grain it might be an indication of overheating. Just a suggestion.
 
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