will this work for heat treating 440c?

A.W.Stovall

Well-Known Member
440C Stainless -

Preheat thoroughly at 1400/1500ºF and hold for 30 minutes.

Raise heat to 1950º F and hold for one hour.

Air quench at room temperature. Subzero freeze at 100º below 0.

Tempering: Temper at 400ºF for one hour, two times

without the sub zero or does someone have a better recipe
Thanks Anthony
 
Anthony
I go to 1250 hold 15 min,1650 hold 15 min,1940 hold for 40 min,plate quench,into cryo,temper 375 x 2 hours twice.
cryo is not necessary but 440-c really likes it.
Stan
 
I bought a dewar and use liquid nitrogen but you can do it with dry ice and alcohol.
Get a cooler big enough for your knife to fit in.get a couple of pounds of dry ice,crush it up and mix in alcohol to make a slurry.
leave the knife in till the dry ice evaporates.
Stan
 
I may have to try the dryice method well my first blade ever heat treated by me is tempering at this time
 
Yes let it come to room temp between tempers,cheap rubbing,not good drinking.
Stan
 
I think 1950 is a little high, and would promote grain growth, whitch in turn leads to a brittle blade. Latrobe steel says 1850-1900. I been using 1880 for 30 minutes.
Dale
 
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