Yes, I Broke Annealed 440C Trying to Bend It

[ddavelarsen]

But I didn't want to! I'm making this fork again but I do not want to duplicate my first experience.

As you can see, as I was bending the fork into shape (cold) it broke along the line of my stamped mark. One thing I will do for sure is relocate my mark, I don't know what I was thinking to put it right on the tine part anyway... And I had probably bent this section far enough and had I been paying attention would have stopped and moved to the next area.

But all that being said, am I just foolish for thinking I can cold bend 440C? I can heat it before bending and that's what I've been planning for the replacement but wanted to get some ideas here first.

How would you do this? Thanks for any help,

Dave

 

[simmonsk]

Hi,
Having wannabe blacksmithing inclinations, I heat it in a forge and bang it against the horn of my anvil. If you can borrow a swage block, that works even better. Otherwise, torch heat and bend over heavy round stock in a vise.
Enjoy...Ken

 

[L6steel]

Dave, after 440c is removed from the heat treat oven and quenched down to handling temps, you can bend it in your hand.

 

[Peter Atwood]

Don't feel bad Dave, I did the same darn thing with a pottery trimming tool that I was making for a friend. Never did try to make another one.

 

[R Dannemann]

You might be getting stress cracks from sharp edges on your stamp during HT. Its a common problem with stainless.

 

[ddavelarsen]

Thanks gents, I am certain my stamp contributed at least 90% to the break, and it gives credence to the arguments against stamping one's mark at all.

Peter, I'm not as smart as some people, I've already started the new one. I'm going to use my one-brick forge to heat each area before bending this time, and will locate my mark in a suitable place.

This is a wedding gift for my wife's son so I don't really have an option but to succeed. That's okay, I think there might be a decent market for upscale carving sets if I can figure out how to make one.

I have the new fork about ready to go, tomorrow afternoon I should get it done but for the bending... Wish me luck!

Dave