Heat Treat 1084 Questions

[KenH]

@Kevin: Thank you for posting - Your knowledge is always greatly appreciated. Please review my Post #2 and call out anything that needs correcting. While I do like to have some ##ea of how the chemistry works in HT'ing, but important thing for me is a "cookbook recipe" to follow. Sometimes I tend to get confused with all the "big words"

I've been doing SS (AEB-L and 14C28N) mostly for the last few years and just last few months after getting a press I've started working with carbon steel, Damascus, San Mai, Go-Mai, etc using 1075 or 1085 with 15N20. After final forging of billet I'll hold forge around 1700°F or so and soak the billet and a big chunk of steel in forge for 10 to 15 minutes, then bury in vermiculite together overnight. This usually put the billet in a condition to saw, drill, etc.

The billet is then shaped into blade ready for HT. I'll then go thru 3 cycles of heat 'n air cook around 1500°F, and call it ready to HT.

Kevin, cons##ering my procedures, could you comment on best steps and temperatures at each step? I know that's asking a lot, but it sure would help me, and I suspect many other folks also.

Ken H>