Failure, and sucess

[p moore]

Here are some pics of a test knife I just finished.
A few weeks I made a knife from 1095 1/4" thick. I had never really worked with this steel. I have for the most part, used O1. This is in a different game all together. When my usual methods of HT did not give me the results I was used to, I took drastic measures. With horrible results.

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/shop%20pics/IMG_0192.jpg

The break at the riscasso showed up when I went back to the grinder. I hit it aginst a tree, and it fell off. So I went to the anvil with a BFH and beat it till it broke again. There were small cracks along the spine. This was a heartbreaker, and an important lesson.

I made a test knife to find out if all the new changes in the heat treat process would work. This knife was made 7" long,1/4" thick, tapered tang, lightning holes in the handle, swedge along the top. I was trying to apply the most things I could into this knife to see what would be the weak link. Answer, nothing.

I put this knife through the wringer today. Here is a list of the things I did to it. First, I beat it aginst a stump. This was the waterloo of the last one. Then I started throwing it into a piece of firewood. Easy at first, then just heaving it. It would sink about 3/4" in. I battoned it down a 18" piece of oak. Hacked on a 2X4, Battoned a 2X4, and cut everything I could find. Carpet, 30+ cuts on cardboard, shipping tube, hickory, lighter knot, plywood, plastic, bungee coard, skived leather,

After everything I threw at it, it still shaved. I am very excited. Here are a few pics of the test.

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/shop%20pics/IMG_0208.jpg

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/shop%20pics/IMG_0211.jpg

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/shop%20pics/IMG_0210.jpg

:D Paul

[crashdive123]

Definitely got a successful heat treat on that one. Well done.

[randyt]

interesting learning experience. nice job, the second knife is well done.

[kyratshooter]

What was the heat treat process that finally worked?

[p moore]

Kyrat,

Like I had stated, This steel is completely different from O1, because it lacks the alloying elements to aid in hardenablility. I won't bore you with all the big words. Plus I don't remember them myself. Typically, I would edge quench O1 in a sloweer speed oil. This is done twice, then temper at 400 for two one hour cycles.

The 10XX steels have little more that carbon to make the blade hard. This requires a much faster quench. You have around 1 second to get the temp down to around 900 deg from 1475. I purchased 5 Gal of fast quench from Mcmaster. and made a quench tank for this. You also must get the entire blade in the quench that has been preheated to 135Deg.

I set up the forge on blocks, so I could station the quench tank directly beneath. Normalized the blade 3 times, and then brought it up to just past nonmagnetic. I evened out the heat along the blade, and right into the quench tank. Moving as if slicing the oil to keep the vapor pocket from forming. After it cooled to room temprature, I checked it with a file, It sounded like glass. Then baked at 425 for two 1 hour cycles. For larger choppers, I will soft draw the spine to better handle the stress.

Paul

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I just did a 1095 Knife and the heattreat is different....your looking for a cobalt to sea green when you temper.

[panch0]

Nice job on that one.

[Camp10]

Kyrat,

Like I had stated, This steel is completely different from O1, because it lacks the alloying elements to aid in hardenablility. I won't bore you with all the big words. Plus I don't remember them myself. Typically, I would edge quench O1 in a sloweer speed oil. This is done twice, then temper at 400 for two one hour cycles.

The 10XX steels have little more that carbon to make the blade hard. This requires a much faster quench. You have around 1 second to get the temp down to around 900 deg from 1475. I purchased 5 Gal of fast quench from Mcmaster. and made a quench tank for this. You also must get the entire blade in the quench that has been preheated to 135Deg.

I set up the forge on blocks, so I could station the quench tank directly beneath. Normalized the blade 3 times, and then brought it up to just past nonmagnetic. I evened out the heat along the blade, and right into the quench tank. Moving as if slicing the oil to keep the vapor pocket from forming. After it cooled to room temprature, I checked it with a file, It sounded like glass. Then baked at 425 for two 1 hour cycles. For larger choppers, I will soft draw the spine to better handle the stress.

Paul

You can edge quench 1095..I do it all the time. I use olive oil for it and usually get an as quenched hardness of about 60.

I was taught not to move the blade around in the oil when quenching because it could warp or crack it on you. Much of the rest of your info is the same as what I do although I do 90 minute temper cycles (X2).

[p moore]

Thanks for the info guys. I am sure I will tweek the process as I go on, I was just glad to get one to the point of cutting.

Paul

[p moore]

Just an update. I did clean up and finish the test blade. It is now headed to a customer for further long term testing.

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0218.jpg

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0223.jpg

Paul

[Rick]

That's a sweet looking knife. I like it even if it is a "test" blade.

[crashdive123]

Great looking knife, wrap, and sheath.

[p moore]

Well I remade the knife in the first pic. I wanted to test it before I got too far. I started with a little chopping and such. Then I thought let's just see.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0224.jpg
See where I am going with this?
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0226.jpg
I was thinking I could just chop it, but the can blew out. So I battoned the dang thing.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0228.jpg
Looks good, but what blew me away....
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0225.jpg
You can believe I am grinning ear to ear.
Paul

[crashdive123]

Looks like you've got the heat treat on that one nailed. Nice job.

[panch0]

Very nice!

[canid]

the failures always hurt, but fracturing aside, i can tell that was shaping out to be a fine work.

the next knife is great, and i'm glad if you worked out a good HT procedure for this steel.

thanks for sharing your experience.

[p moore]

Thanks guys!

Here is the end result.

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0232.jpg

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq261/pmooreknife/IMG_0234.jpg

The handles are MYcarta, made from sage green burlap.

Paul