Question for the mettalurgists:
Does tool steel work-harden at the edges where it has been sheared. O1 and D2 in particular?
If so, would it be prudent to anneal?
thanks bruce

Work hardening is the act of crushing and distorting the crystal lattice so that dislocation movement is impeded. I would say that shearing would work harden the edges somewhat. If you are going to forge the steel, it will re-crystalize by the time it reaches a dull red and you need not worry about it. If you are grinding it, I doubt the work-hardened edge would cause you much trouble. However, heating it to a very dull red and slow cooling would reduce the hardness considerably without the problem of scale and carbide precipitation.

Thanks QC
I may have access to some large plate 01 and wondered what I might run into withhaving it sheared. bruce