Oh no, not another temper question!

[sharpstick]

I am using 5160 steel. After I temper at 400 degrees do I need to quench the blade, or do I let it cool off naturally at room temperature? I have been told both methods by two different people.
What is the correct/best method?

Thanks,
Kyle

 

[etp777]

You qunech for the heat treat, after bringing up to critical temperature(don't know what this is for 5160, a guess would say at least 1400 degrees). This makes the steel ahrd, but brittle

Then you temper, at say 400 as you say, and let cool naturally. quench again then I don't think will do anything, though I make no claims of being an expert. Not hot enough to help on hardness, and I don't THINk it would have any effect, or at least any positive effect on grain size, strength, etc.

There are others here who can and will answer better though.

 

[mete]

After temper it makes no difference whether you quench it or let it cool slowly because the changes occur at the tempering temperature.

 

[sharpstick]

Hey, I got the shipment of the other camo micarta today. Great stuff! Let me know when you do another batch.

 

[rlinger]

and that is one thing Mete taught me I will never forget.

Do you know what hardness you got with that on the 5160?? I was getting 58 w/400 temper, which I thought pretty good.

RL