Forging high speed steel?

S

shqxk

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Mar 26, 2012
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I have seen a guy who try to forge round bars of CPM-M4 into camp knife.

There are knowledgeable people told him that wasn't the proper way the handle these kind of steel. Yes every steel sure can be forge unless it won't can be hot rolled in to a sheet at the mill but not all steel design to be forge by hand.

What you guys think about this?
 
HSS is not a good choice for forging. As you said, any steel probably can be forged, but the high alloying and other things make HSS a poor choice. It may break , crumble, and will probably be a bear to move under the hammer. It is quite likely that many of the atributes you want HSS for will be destroyed in forging it.

I would pick another steel if you want a forged knife.
 
It would be a poor choice if the company didn't give directions on how to forge the steel.In any case I would prefer a press rather than hammer .
 
Crucible says forge it at 2000 to 2100F and don't forge below 1700F.

I have hundreds of large, M2 drill bits laying around. I tried forging one. It was an absolute bear to move with a 4.5 lb hammer. When Crucible says "Forge at..." and gives direction, I think they mean drop forging in a die set, not with a hammer and anvil. One or two heats, maybe very little change to the chemical makeup of the steel. 100 heats at the anvil and who knows what you've got when you're done.
 
It can be forged. It does require equipment to forge, at least it is not practical to forge by hand.

Do not forge higher than 2100'f. Forgeability goes down with higher temperatures. Finish forge at ~1650'. Anneal as soon as the steel reaches ~120'.

Heat steel slowly and soak at temperature longer before forging.
Do not normalize.

Hoss
 
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