I just HT a 10" fighter that I forged from Aldo's 1084.
My HT sequence was: 10 min. soak @ 1600f right after forging, then after grinding I normalized 3X at 1475f, 1450f, 1425f approximately. Then I brought it up to 1500f and quenched in 135-140f canola oil. When I took the knife out of the quench it was just black. Usually coming out of the quench the blade is a grey color and most of the scale has popped off in the quench. I checked it with a file and it skated off somewhat but it also cut in to the blade like it was just somewhat hardened. I filed some more to see if it was just decarb but it just kept cutting in to the blade . So the only thing I can think of is that I didn't have enough oil volume to take the heat out of the blade fast enough. I'm currently using a 6 quart roaster to hold my canola. Is this large enough? I've quenched about 15 or so blades in the same oil. Should I get some new canola or does it have more life left? I never have flame up so that's not a problem.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You in advance.
BTW, thank for the HT help you guys gave me a few weeks ago. I made a small hunter from 1084 with a pretty thin edge and I was able to cut through a 2x4, some leather and cardboard and whack on an antler with no damage to the edge and it still shaved hair! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Wesley
Maybe you burned off the carbon?
Souldn't be...... I don't forge above about 2150f and then I ground a good 1/8 in. or so past the scale at the cutting edge. I use a HT forge that I built to maintain the correct temp for hardening the steel so overheating and scale shouldn't be a problem.
I hope I didn't sound like I was just dismissing your question, Caleb.
With the sequence I'm using now decarb shouldn't be too much of an issue but, it is something to keep in mind.
