Stock Removal and A-2 steel

[Eichler]

Ok,

I got a great deal on some A-2 3/16"-2"x18" steel the other day. I do stock removal and man this stuff is HARD. Can someone recommend a way to grind this stuff a little easier? I first thought of annealing it but the temp is 1550-1600 degrees and cool rate of 40 degrees and hour. Can't cook that up in the stove.

I am using a 1x42" delta sander, don't laugh, and have a 2 wheel grinder but the wheels I have will barely scratch it.

Has anyone worked with it before?

Thanks,

Ike

P.S. Great deal so far only if I wanted to buy a piece of bar stock that will always remain a piece of bar stock.

[Ray Rogers]

In it's annealed state, A2 isn't any harder to grind that most any other steel. I suspect yours is not annealed but needs to be. You know what they say about great deals, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is".........

[Eichler]

Yep,

Good deal, yep, smack in the middle of that one. I haven't got access to a furness to get it annealed. According to Goodards book, its 1550-1600 degrees, to hot for a house hold anything. What do the little toaster ovens that folks here talk about go up to?

Ike

[Ray Rogers]

Toaster ovens are about the same as kitchen ovens, temperature wise. You're going to need a real heat treat oven, kiln, or a forge ...........