|
Post by oos3thoo on Jun 19, 2008 2:59:49 GMT
How would I go about quenching? Warm water?I don't wanna crack my steel...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 4:15:25 GMT
i wouldnt do water then, i cracked many blades when i first tried in water.
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jun 19, 2008 21:01:49 GMT
Experiment with different quenching mediums on pieces of scrap steel (obviously of the same type that you are making your blade from). Try oil first. If that fails, try water. If that fails, try brine.
Only a fool goes through all the hassle of making a blade, then hardens it WITHOUT determining the best quenching medium first.
USE THE QUENCHING MEDIUM THAT HARDENS THE STEEL MOST EFFECTIVELY. Trying to harden a medium carbon steel like 1045 in oil is going to prove difficult, for example.
Another way to help avoid cracks is to forge and grind as evenly as possible, and to normalise after every major forming step. Normalise after forging. Normalise after the rough grind, before the heat treatment.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 22:22:55 GMT
Experiment with different quenching mediums on pieces of scrap steel (obviously of the same type that you are making your blade from). Try oil first. If that fails, try water. If that fails, try brine. Only a fool goes through all the hassle of making a blade, then hardens it WITHOUT determining the best quenching medium first. USE THE QUENCHING MEDIUM THAT HARDENS THE STEEL MOST EFFECTIVELY. Trying to harden a medium carbon steel like 1045 in oil is going to prove difficult, for example. Another way to help avoid cracks is to forge and grind as evenly as possible, and to normalise after every major forming step. Normalise after forging. Normalise after the rough grind, before the heat treatment. Seconded. However, trying to harden 1045 in oil will be more than difficult, it will be useless.
|
|
|
Post by oos3thoo on Jun 20, 2008 1:11:33 GMT
Speaking of 1045 Carbon Steel, how easy is it to work with? Can you drill it with a regular corded drill?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2008 1:37:53 GMT
1045 is a good steel to start with, cheap as dirt, heat and quench in cold ass tap water or brine or whatever, won't make the greatest knife but it is very easy to use and work.
|
|
|
Post by oos3thoo on Jun 20, 2008 1:46:29 GMT
I will save my 9260 for later. I just purchased an angle grinder. I also have a couple rail rode spikes and plan to make a rope dart and maybe a few other things.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2008 2:02:23 GMT
How sure are you it is 9260? Don't just automatically assume it is because it is a leaf spring.
|
|
|
Post by oos3thoo on Jun 20, 2008 4:54:19 GMT
Then I am not too sure then. How can I find out?
|
|
|
Post by oos3thoo on Jun 20, 2008 6:10:26 GMT
BTW, is there any way of making a hole without drilling? All I own is a cheap dremel knockoff, a 30$ angle grinder and... A hack saw. A crappy one at that.
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jun 20, 2008 18:18:28 GMT
Borrow or buy a nice drill.
Otherwise, you could punch the holes (at a bright orange heat; you will need a working forge) with a round punch. This is less desirable for making rivet holes (for full tang scale handles) than drilling as not much metal is removed (only the small pellet that drops out of the punched hole), it all gets squished out to either side. You would have to grind everything flat again afterward, otherwise your handle scales wouldnt sit flat.
Just buy or borrow a drill. A pillar drill/drill press is preferable for this sort of work. Use drill bits designed for cutting through metal, or they simply will not cut through the steel. Make sure the steel is soft before performing any cold work like drilling or filing.
Finally, it is always better to not assume a steel is of a certain type, as you can never be sure. The only assumption is is fairly safe to make is that leaf springs are usually carbon steel. You can never be sure. Spark tests can help, but spark testing is an art in itself.
|
|