Originally Posted by
DCorlando
First some clarification on harden vs temper, to harden high carbon steel it is heated to just past critical (normally bright red) and can be checked using a stick magnet, no attraction and you are good to go. It is then cooled quickly, I use plain vegetable oil with a pre heat done by simply placing the gallon paint can with the oil next to the forge fire. This is the safest way with little chance of cracking but it does not tend to make it as hard as water. Water is very hard on the steel and is likely to crack.
After the steel is cooled it is at it's hardest and if a knife blade it would be likely to crack or chip. To temper the steel is heated again but to much lower temp. 400 500 f for an hour or two is common and on small items can be done in a toaster oven.
The striker gets the full harden with no temper, just don't drop it on a big rock or concrete.
5160 should work but I have not tried it. I think the best I have tried so far is 1095 because there is no tungsten in it. On the O1 I used there is tungsten in it and I think it may suppress the burning of the little bits that get knocked off by the flint.
Hope this helps, Dale
Bookmarks