How To Annealing vs normalizing

[NickHFSS]

I’ve read many stuff over the years on this forum and sorry if I missed the thread or post where it says the answer but can you tell me the difference between annealing and normalizing , when I make my knives I normalize 3 times , meaning heat up to non magnetic and let it air cool , I know this changes the chaotic molecules and puts them in straight chains , as I know annealing is heating up the steel and letting it cool slowly in sand or etc , can you tell me what does this change , is it necessary and how’s the proper way to do it ? I work with 80CrV2 steel
Thanks

 

[A.McPherson]

Hey Nick,
I don't have all the smart words for what you're looking for, but in general, normalizing makes the steel "normal" so that it is in a relatively homogenous state. Annealing makes the steel as soft as possible, making it easy to work.

Here is probably one of the best resources out there on the metallurgy of knife making.

Read all this and understand it, and you'll be set!!

https://knifesteelnerds.com/categories/

 

[Willie71]

I’ve read many stuff over the years on this forum and sorry if I missed the thread or post where it says the answer but can you tell me the difference between annealing and normalizing , when I make my knives I normalize 3 times , meaning heat up to non magnetic and let it air cool , I know this changes the chaotic molecules and puts them in straight chains , as I know annealing is heating up the steel and letting it cool slowly in sand or etc , can you tell me what does this change , is it necessary and how’s the proper way to do it ? I work with 80CrV2 steel
Thanks

Normalizing is above non magnetic, but also higher than that, as you are above 1609f typically for the forging steels. At 1500f, you are above magnetic, but too cool for normalizing, which is above ac3 on a ttt chart. Normalizing will grow new grains, which makes them all equal size, but then you need to grain refinement to get a better condition for heat treat,

Annealing is the process of getting the steel to an austentite state, then slow cooling to orevent hardening. The end result is pearlite, but there are different ways to anneal which result in different structures, each with its own advantages or disadvantages depending if you want easy to machine, or ready for heat treat.

Definitely read up on this at knifesteelnerds.com. Larrin has amassed the best knifemaking metallurgical info in one site that is currently available to us.