HT 410 steel for liners?

gull wing

Well-Known Member
I'm trying something new, stainlesss steel for my liner locks instead of my usual titanium. I tested a pocket clip I made with .040" thick material and it turned out fine(1800 hardening and temper twice @ 750, two hrs).

My question is At what stage do you slice and bend the liner lock? Drill holes?
1. Before hardening? 2. After hardening? 3. Is there a problem with warping?
 
I think we're all on unfamiliar ground here, so reluctant to put foot in mouth. It seems to me holes should be drilled, cuts made and bend lock before HT. If it doesn't get hard and springy, why are we hardening? If warping is a problem, it could probably be resolved with the angle iron method. I have no HT specs for 410SS, so I'd just be doing the same Google search you already did.

My 2 cents.

Rob!
 
I have preliminary results:
I hardened 410 FIRST and was able to drill reasonably well, tap threads, slice and bend the lock lug. The lug kept it's springiness.
Now this was .040" thick stuff(what I will use for pocket clips), so we will see how .050" and .060" works for me.
 
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