Vermiculite question

[Gliden07]

I want to get some Vermiculite to help me anneal some of the steels I get for various projects. What kind should I get or does it even make a difference? I see they have different grades and sizes.

 

[Freds Edge]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and look in the Garden Dept or your nearest garden center

 

[Sean Jones]

I've used cat litter before. It's cheaper and accomplishes the same thing.

 

[opaul]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and look in the Garden Dept or your nearest garden center

This is what I did.

 

[Jason Volkert]

I find the Vermiculite stuff is just a waste of time. I have never had any problem drilling holes after normalizing the steel.

 

[tkroenlein]

I find the Vermiculite stuff is just a waste of time. I have never had any problem drilling holes after normalizing the steel.

I agree with Jason. Normalizing followed by subcritical anneal seems easy enough.

 

[opaul]

I agree with Jason. Normalizing followed by subcritical anneal seems easy enough.

That may work for some but I could not drill some 15N20 (pre-heat treat) without differential heat treatment and using vermiculite.

 

[EdCaffreyMS]

15N20 is a bear to anneal. Often I have to do multiple cycles to get it soft enough to work.

Personally, I couldn't do without vermiculite in the hot shop.....lots of usefulness.

Vermiculite has the highest insulation value of the common materials that Blacksmiths/Bladesmiths use in their shops.... which is why I recommend it over all the other products for slow cooling operations of any type. Likely it's biggest drawback is it's affinity for moisture.....get it wet, and it literally will never fully dry, which can spell disaster for it's use/our purposes.

The particular type isn't terribly important. Lowes, or Home Depot. If not there, I have had to ordered in the past through a local garden/nursery center. Most time's I've seen/purchased it in 5 cubic foot bags.

 

[opaul]

Update. Working on a 15N20 blade today and I can’t drill the pin holes. One thermo cycle and its sitting in the vermiculite. Hope this is all it takes to get it annealed.

 

[Gliden07]

Update. Working on a 15N20 blade today and I can’t drill the pin holes. One thermo cycle and its sitting in the vermiculite. Hope this is all it takes to get it annealed.

Let me know!! I'm headed out to get some today I think?

 

[opaul]

Let me know!! I'm headed out to get some today I think?

After cooling in the vermiculite I was able to drill with no issues.