Scott

I have not tried to heat treat D2 , But since no one has offered anything I will tell you what my heat treat book says.

Wrap part in stainless foil, preheat at 1200 degrees F soak for 10 to 15 minutes after the part reaches this temp.

Ramp to 1850 degrees F , soak for 1 hour per inch at this temp. In your case it looks like you would soak for 4 hours and 30 minutes after it reaches 1850 degrees F.

Quench by air cooling in still air , leave inside the foil wrap until the part reaches 125 to 150 degrees F. This is to help prevent deeper decarburization layer.

Temper immediately. The recommended tempering temp. is 960 degrees F for the first temper, 2 hours per inch of thickness. Cool to room temp.

Second temper, 900 degrees F for 2 hours per inch of thickness. Cool to room temp. Rockwell C according to the book should be 58/60.

I know you can temper at a lower temp. but this is the recommended temp.

Hope this is of some help.

The source for this info comes from the book, Heat Treatment, Selection, And Application Of Tool Steels, By Bill Bryson.

Anthony

"Ramp to 1850 degrees F , soak for 1 hour per inch at this temp. In your case it looks like you would soak for 4 hours and 30 minutes after it reaches 1850 degrees F."

Keep in mind that it's only 2 inches to the center. The piece is getting heated from all sides.

Karl

Thank you. I am only quoting what the book says. This book says, and this is quoting the book--

Calculating the soak time of a part is not very difficult. All manuals will say to soak D2 for 1 hour per inch of cross section. The soak time should be based on 1 hour per inch of the smallest cross

section for parts in excess of 1 inch thick. Parts that are smaller than this should be soaked using the following rule of thumb.

1/8 inch - 30 minutes

1/4 inch - 40 minutes

1/2 inch - 50 minuets

3/4 inch - 55-60 minuets

Parts in excess of 1 inch can be rated proportionately, that is 1-1/2 inch thick equals 1-1/2 hours.

The book also says , and there example of using a 3 inch cubed piece of steel. Quoting the book says--

Our part that we have in the furnace measures 3 inches cubed, so the soak time will be 3 hours.

It goes on to say that the time is figured from the thinnest cross section,. So by the way I understand this the part that Scott is going to heat treat would be just 4 hours, instead of the 4-1/2 hours.

I am only quoting what this book says. And the way I understand it.

Thank you Karl, I respect your input. I do not know for sure.

Anthony

I don't know for sure, either!

I'd go by the book. Thanks for posting that.

Thanks Anthony l plan to do it this weekend I'll post a photo of the outcome